Spot the Prepositional Phrase - ELA Worksheets - SplashLearn - Free Printable

Let's solve this prepositional phrases worksheet step by step. We'll go through each sentence in Part A and Part B, identify the prepositional phrase, and determine what word it modifies (or where it should be placed).

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🔹 What is a Prepositional Phrase?

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (like *to*, *in*, *on*, *with*, *for*, *under*, etc.) and includes the object of the preposition. It often tells us where, when, how, or why something happens.

Example:
- "in the library" → prepositional phrase
- It modifies the verb "find" → tells where you can find the book.

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## ✔ PART A: Circle the prepositional phrase and underline the word it modifies

1. Using GPS, we found our way to the hotel.
- Prepositional phrase: to the hotel
- Modifies: found (tells where they found their way)
→ Circle: *to the hotel*
→ Underline: *found*

2. I used a needle and some thread to mend the dress.
- Prepositional phrase: to mend the dress
*(Note: "to mend" is an infinitive, not a preposition. But “to” here is part of the infinitive, not a preposition.)*
Wait — actually, "to mend" is not a prepositional phrase. There is no prepositional phrase in this sentence.
But wait — let’s check:
The only possible prepositional phrase might be "to mend the dress" — but again, "to" is part of the infinitive verb, not a preposition.
So — no prepositional phrase?
Actually, there is no prepositional phrase here.
But maybe we're missing something...
Let’s re-analyze:
- "used a needle and some thread" — object of "used"
- "to mend the dress" — purpose (infinitive phrase), not prepositional.
So: ✘ No prepositional phrase in this sentence.
But perhaps the intended answer is "to mend the dress" — but that's incorrect because it's not a prepositional phrase.

✔ Correction: This sentence has no prepositional phrase.
But if the exercise expects one, maybe it's "to mend" — still not correct.
So likely, this sentence does NOT contain a prepositional phrase.

However, let’s assume the intention is to identify "to mend the dress" as a purpose phrase, but that's not a prepositional phrase.

➤ So, skip or note: No prepositional phrase.

3. You can find the research book in the library.
- Prepositional phrase: in the library
- Modifies: find (tells where)
→ Circle: *in the library*
→ Underline: *find*

4. The tabby cat crept slowly through the bushes.
- Prepositional phrase: through the bushes
- Modifies: crept (tells where)
→ Circle: *through the bushes*
→ Underline: *crept*

5. The sophisticated woman in the red dress is my aunt.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red dress
- Modifies: woman (describes which woman)
→ Circle: *in the red dress*
→ Underline: *woman*

6. On Friday, he told us he had won the lottery.
- Prepositional phrase: On Friday
- Modifies: told (tells when)
→ Circle: *On Friday*
→ Underline: *told*

7. I found only dust bunnies and cat toys under the sofa.
- Prepositional phrase: under the sofa
- Modifies: found (tells where)
→ Circle: *under the sofa*
→ Underline: *found*

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🟨 Summary for Part A:

| Sentence | Prepositional Phrase | Modifies |
|--------|----------------------|--------|
| 1 | to the hotel | found |
| 2 | None | — |
| 3 | in the library | find |
| 4 | through the bushes | crept |
| 5 | in the red dress | woman |
| 6 | On Friday | told |
| 7 | under the sofa | found |

> ⚠️ Note: Sentence 2 has no prepositional phrase — it's an infinitive phrase ("to mend the dress"), not a prepositional phrase.

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## ✔ PART B: Circle the prepositional phrase and draw an arrow to the correct placement

We now need to identify the prepositional phrase and draw an arrow from it to the word it modifies — but in these sentences, the prepositional phrase may be misplaced or confusing.

Let’s analyze each:

1. My sister is the girl walking the dog in the red skirt.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red skirt
- What does it modify?
It could be ambiguous:
- Is it modifying "girl"? → "the girl in the red skirt"
- Or "dog"? → "walking the dog in the red skirt" → would mean the dog is wearing the skirt — absurd.
So clearly, it modifies girl.
→ Circle: *in the red skirt*
→ Arrow from phrase to girl

2. Use glue with a broken leg to repair the chair.
- Prepositional phrase: with a broken leg
- But who has the broken leg? The glue? That doesn't make sense.
Clearly, the phrase is misplaced.
It should be: "Use glue to repair the chair with a broken leg."
But as written, it implies the glue has a broken leg — illogical.
So the phrase with a broken leg is meant to describe who is using the glue — probably the person.
But since it's attached to "glue", it's misplaced.
Correct placement: "Use glue to repair the chair with a broken leg."
So the phrase with a broken leg modifies chair.
→ Circle: *with a broken leg*
→ Arrow from phrase to chair

3. They didn’t see the man leave the building in the blue suit.
- Prepositional phrase: in the blue suit
- Does it modify "man" or "building"?
If it modifies "man", then: "the man in the blue suit" — makes sense.
If it modifies "building", then "the building in the blue suit" — odd.
So it modifies man.
→ Circle: *in the blue suit*
→ Arrow to man

4. The teacher gave to the students in the classroom the assignment.
- Prepositional phrase: to the students
Also: in the classroom
But "to the students" is a prepositional phrase indicating recipient.
"In the classroom" tells where.
But the sentence is awkwardly structured:
"gave to the students in the classroom the assignment"
→ The correct order should be:
"The teacher gave the assignment to the students in the classroom."
So both phrases are misplaced.
But we must identify the prepositional phrases:
- to the students → modifies gave (indirect object)
- in the classroom → modifies gave (location)
But since the sentence is incorrect, we have to figure out what it should be.
Likely, the phrase in the classroom modifies students — meaning "the students in the classroom".
But currently, it's placed after "students", so it could be seen as modifying "assignment"? No.
Best interpretation:
- "to the students" → prepositional phrase, modifies gave
- "in the classroom" → modifies students (describing which students)
But in this structure, it's ambiguous.
So:
→ Circle: *to the students* and *in the classroom*
→ Arrow from *to the students* → gave
→ Arrow from *in the classroom* → students

But the instruction says: "draw an arrow from the phrase to the correct placement" — meaning correct grammatical placement.

So the phrase in the classroom should be placed before "students":
"the students in the classroom"
So the arrow goes from in the classroom → students

5. I made sugar cookies for the neighbor with pink frosting.
- Prepositional phrases:
- for the neighbor
- with pink frosting
- Which one modifies what?
- "for the neighbor" → recipient of cookies → modifies made
- "with pink frosting" → describes the cookies → modifies cookies
- But the sentence is ambiguous:
Could mean:
- I made cookies for the neighbor who has pink frosting? (no)
- Or: I made cookies with pink frosting for the neighbor → clear.
So "with pink frosting" modifies cookies
→ Circle: *with pink frosting*
→ Arrow to cookies

6. The little boy ate the cake in the red cap.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red cap
- Does it modify "cake" or "boy"?
- "cake in the red cap" → cake wearing a cap? Unlikely.
- "boy in the red cap" → makes sense.
So the phrase in the red cap modifies boy
→ Circle: *in the red cap*
→ Arrow to boy

7. I discovered the wedding dress my mom wore in the attic.
- Prepositional phrase: in the attic
- What does it modify?
- "wore in the attic" → means she wore it in the attic?
But that doesn't make sense — people don't wear wedding dresses in attics.
- More likely: the dress was in the attic.
So the phrase in the attic should modify dress
But currently, it's placed at the end: "wore in the attic" → suggests the action happened in the attic.
So the sentence is misplaced.
Should be:
"I discovered the wedding dress in the attic that my mom wore."
So in the attic modifies dress
→ Circle: *in the attic*
→ Arrow to dress

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🟨 Summary for Part B:

| Sentence | Prepositional Phrase(s) | Correct Placement (Arrow To) |
|--------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 1 | in the red skirt | → girl |
| 2 | with a broken leg | → chair (corrected placement) |
| 3 | in the blue suit | → man |
| 4 | to the students, in the classroom | → gave, → students |
| 5 | with pink frosting | → cookies |
| 6 | in the red cap | → boy |
| 7 | in the attic | → dress |

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## ✔ Final Answer Guide

PART A:

1. to the hotel → found
2. ✘ No prepositional phrase
3. in the library → find
4. through the bushes → crept
5. in the red dress → woman
6. On Friday → told
7. under the sofa → found

PART B:

1. in the red skirt → arrow to girl
2. with a broken leg → arrow to chair (correct placement)
3. in the blue suit → arrow to man
4. to the students → arrow to gave; in the classroom → arrow to students
5. with pink frosting → arrow to cookies
6. in the red cap → arrow to boy
7. in the attic → arrow to dress

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💡 Tips for Students:
- Look for prepositions like: *in, on, at, to, for, with, under, through, by, about, etc.*
- Ask: What does the phrase tell us about? (Where? When? Why? How?)
- Be careful with misplaced modifiers — they can change meaning!

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