Identify prepositional phrases confidently with this fully interactive grammar page designed for English learners. This lesson breaks down what prepositions are, how prepositional phrases work, and why they are essential for clear communication.
You will practice identifying prepositional phrases through multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank activities, flashcards, a sentence builder, word scrambles, and a matching game. By the end of this page, you will be able to identify prepositional phrases quickly and accurately in any sentence.
Words are provided in the fill-in-the-blank activity to help students practice writing, as they are currently working at the A1–A2 level. The purpose of this activity is to introduce learners to prepositional phrases and support their understanding through guided practice
A preposition is a small word that shows the
relationship between things in a sentence, for example
in, on, from, between, for, with, about, after.
A prepositional phrase is usually
preposition + noun or
preposition + noun phrase.
Example: We study English in the morning.
The prepositional phrase is in the morning.
2. Uses of prepositional phrases
We use prepositional phrases to give extra information about
where, when, how long, or to give a
general idea.
Where? She works in the city centre.
When? The shops are busy on Fridays.
How long? He lived there for many years.
General idea/Topic: We talked about the project.
3. Prepositional phrases in sentences
A prepositional phrase can come after the verb or
at the beginning of a sentence.
They meet at the bus stop.
In summer, the days are very hot.
When a prepositional phrase comes at the beginning, we usually add a comma.
Example: In the evening, the streets are quiet.
4. More than one prepositional phrase
A sentence can have more than one prepositional phrase for richer detail.
In the morning, she studies at the library.
They walk along the riverafter dinner.
Look for a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase.
This whole group of words is a prepositional phrase.
Activity 1: Multiple Choice — Choose the Prepositional Phrase
Choose the option that completes the sentence with a correct
prepositional phrase.
Activity 2: Fill in the Blanks — Complete the Prepositional Phrase
Complete each sentence with the correct prepositional phrase
from the clue. The blank is where the whole phrase should go.
1.I like to read(Write: in the morning.)
2.The city is very humid(Write: in summer.)
3.Our neighbours moved here(Write: from the city.)
4.The village lies(Write: between two rivers.)
5.My aunt worked in that hospital(Write: for many years.)
6.We go to the beach(Write: on the weekend.)
7.I study best(Write: with my friends.)
8.We sometimes watch the sunset(Write: after dinner.)
9.The news reporter spoke(Write: about the weather.)
10.Every morning, people wait(Write: at the bus stop.)
Activity 3: Flashcards — Study Prepositional Phrases
Click each card to see how the prepositional phrase is built and what it shows
(where, when, how long, or general idea).
Card 1 of 10
in the morning
Click to see the parts of the prepositional phrase.
in (preposition) + the morning (noun phrase) — shows when.
Click to go back.
Activity 4: Word Scramble — Parts of Prepositional Phrases
Unscramble each word. It is a preposition or a noun from one of the prepositional phrases
in this lesson.
1. Unscramble this preposition:
NI
(Preposition in the phrase in the morning.)
2. Unscramble this noun:
GNINROM
(Noun in the phrase in the morning.)
3. Unscramble this preposition:
MORF
(Preposition in the phrase from the city.)
4. Unscramble this noun:
YTIC
(Noun in the phrase from the city.)
5. Unscramble this preposition:
NEEWTEB
(Preposition in the phrase between two rivers.)
6. Unscramble this noun:
SREVRI
(Noun in the phrase between two rivers.)
7. Unscramble this preposition:
RETFA
(Preposition in the phrase after dinner.)
8. Unscramble this noun:
RNNEDI
(Noun in the phrase after dinner.)
9. Unscramble this preposition:
TUOBA
(Preposition in the phrase about the weather.)
10. Unscramble this noun:
REHTAEW
(Noun in the phrase about the weather.)
Activity 5: Sentence Builder — Use Prepositional Phrases
Write sentences using each prepositional phrase. Click ‘Check Sentence’ for writing analysis.
For more accuracy in writing and to find additional mistakes, use this
Writing Assessment Tool
.
Writing Analysis: Feedback uses symbols like
cap (capitalization), p (punctuation),
wm (word missing), frag (fragment).
Activity 6: Matching Game — Phrases & Meanings
Match each prepositional phrase with the best description.
Click one item in the left column, then its match in the right column.
Prepositional Phrases
in the morning
in summer
from the city
between two rivers
for many years
on the weekend
with my friends
after dinner
about the weather
at the bus stop
Descriptions
early part of the day, before lunchtime
during the hottest season of the year
having your home or origin in an urban area
located in the space separating a pair of rivers
across a long period of time, for several years
at the end of the week, usually Saturday or Sunday
together in a group of people you know well
the time that comes once the evening meal is finished
on the topic of sunshine, rain, temperature, and wind
standing in the place where buses regularly arrive
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