Phrases Worksheet -1 worksheet - Free Printable

Here is the step-by-step solution to fill in the blanks and identify the functions of the prepositional phrases.

Part 1: Definitions

First, let's look at the definition box at the top.
* Definition: A phrase is a group of words that stands together as a single grammatical unit...
*(Note: Sometimes "conceptual" or just "grammatical" is used, but "single grammatical" fits the two blanks best.)*
* Prepositional Phrase Function: A prepositional phrase always functions as either an adjective or as an adverb.

Part 2: Identifying Functions (Adjective vs. Adverb)

To solve these, ask yourself what the prepositional phrase is describing:
* If it describes a noun (a person, place, or thing), it is an Adjective.
* If it describes a verb (an action), telling *when*, *where*, or *how*, it is an Adverb.

1. Before Jack left home, he ate the cupcake on the table.
* Phrase: *on the table*
* What does it describe? It tells us which cupcake. "Cupcake" is a noun.
* Function: Adjective

2. Over the last few months, we've had to learn new technical platforms.
* Phrase: *Over the last few months*
* What does it describe? It tells us *when* we learned. "Learned" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

3. The young man in the middle is the best singer.
* Phrase: *in the middle*
* What does it describe? It tells us which man. "Man" is a noun.
* Function: Adjective

4. Yesterday, my entire family took the ferry across the Long Island Sound.
* Phrase: *across the Long Island Sound*
* What does it describe? It tells us *where* they took the ferry. "Took" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

5. The grocery store on Midway Road has the best fruit selection.
* Phrase: *on Midway Road*
* What does it describe? It tells us which store. "Store" is a noun.
* Function: Adjective

6. After we ran the race, Jackson and Javier met us at Chick-fil-A.
* Phrase: *at Chick-fil-A*
* What does it describe? It tells us *where* they met. "Met" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

7. Henry mentioned that Southold filed a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court.
* Phrase: *in the New York State Supreme Court*
* What does it describe? It tells us where the lawsuit was filed. "Filed" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

8. Too many eggs were needed for Christina's recipe, so we couldn't make it.
* Phrase: *for Christina's recipe*
* What does it describe? It explains *why* the eggs were needed. This modifies the verb "needed."
* Function: Adverb

9. Do not eat the cookies from your grandmother until you finish your dinner.
* Phrase: *from your grandmother*
* What does it describe? It tells us which cookies. "Cookies" is a noun.
* Function: Adjective

10. Angel thinks he knows the policeman with the radio.
* Phrase: *with the radio*
* What does it describe? It tells us which policeman. "Policeman" is a noun.
* Function: Adjective

11. For tomorrow's birthday celebration, Pat decided to bake the large ham.
* Phrase: *For tomorrow's birthday celebration*
* What does it describe? It tells us *why* Pat decided to bake. This modifies the verb "decided."
* Function: Adverb

12. First, the baseball coach tugged on his ear before he gave the true signal.
* Phrase: *on his ear*
* What does it describe? It tells us *where* he tugged. "Tugged" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

13. Blake should have told his brothers about the missing painting.
* Phrase: *about the missing painting*
* What does it describe? It tells us *what* he told them about. This modifies the verb "told."
* Function: Adverb

14. During the final quarter, three passes were intercepted, and both quarterbacks were sacked.
* Phrase: *During the final quarter*
* What does it describe? It tells us *when* the passes were intercepted. "Intercepted" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

15. The hospital was built in the 1950's and drastically needs to be updated.
* Phrase: *in the 1950's*
* What does it describe? It tells us *when* it was built. "Built" is a verb.
* Function: Adverb

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Final Answer:

Definitions:
A phrase is a group of words that stands together as a single grammatical unit.
A prepositional phrase... functions as either an adjective or as an adverb.

Sentence Functions:
1. Adjective
2. Adverb
3. Adjective
4. Adverb
5. Adjective
6. Adverb
7. Adverb
8. Adverb
9. Adjective
10. Adjective
11. Adverb
12. Adverb
13. Adverb
14. Adverb
15. Adverb