Definition & Meaning of "prepositional phrase"

What is a "prepositional phrase"?

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, known as the object of the preposition. This phrase adds information about time, location, direction, or manner in relation to the other elements in a sentence. For example, in the sentence "The cat is under the table," the prepositional phrase "under the table" indicates the location of the cat. Prepositional phrases can also provide additional details, as in "She will meet us at the park after lunch," where "at the park" specifies the meeting location and "after lunch" indicates the time. Understanding prepositional phrases is essential for enhancing sentence clarity and depth, as they help establish relationships between different parts of a sentence.