SAT Writing: Prepositional Phrases

Most prepositions are direction/position words. Here's a list of common prepositions:

aboardaboutaboveacrossafteragainstalongamidamongaround
as toatbeforebehindbelowbeneathbesidebetweenbeyondby
circadespitedowndue toduringexceptforfromininto
likenearofoffonontooutoverpastsince
throughtotowardunderuntilupuponwithwithinwithout

Now do you have to memorize these? Certainly not. Just familiarize yourself, especially with the bolded ones. Some words are prepositions in some cases and something else in others. Just remember that a preposition almost always has a noun following it. Take a look at these two sentences:

  • Throughout the living room was the scent of fatty crabs that had expired weeks ago.
  • I put my sister on the diet after it worked so well for me.

The preposition + noun combinations are underlined. These preposition and noun combinations are called prepositional phrases.

Prepositional Phrase=Preposition+Noun+Any Attached Describing Phrase
=of+fatty crabs+that had expired weeks ago

If you think a word is a preposition and there's a noun following it, chances are it's a preposition. Even if it's not, don't worry about being 100% on which words are prepositions; the SAT doesn't test you on them directly. For example, after it is not a prepositional phrase in the second sentence because it's part of a larger phrase—after it worked so well. If the sentence were After school, I put my sister on a diet, then After would act as a preposition. But again, as long as you get the general idea, you'll be fine. This just helps you later when you learn about subject verb agreement.

Here's the most important takeaway: prepositional phrases are not essential to the sentence they're in. While they may supply important details, sentences can stand alone grammatically without them (there will still be a subject and a verb).

Cross out all prepositional phrases in the following sentences.

  1. Bathed in balsamic and dressed in basil, ripe tomatoes and soft mozzarella bask in the light of the lamp that is never turned off.
  2. Jack's grandfather suffered from polio, a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease.
  3. She tiptoed through the cubicle, examining the dusty wooden chair, and made her way past her boss, who was on the phone with a contractor.
  4. As an environmental researcher, I study the effects of global warming, which has been a hot topic in recent years.
  5. The group of nearly ten executives, under the leadership of Senator Aldrich, enjoyed the secrecy and placidity of the luxurious Jekyll Island.
  6. According to the article, the train that had crashed into the wall had no conductor on board.
  1. Bathed in balsamic and dressed in basil, ripe tomatoes and soft mozzarella bask in the light of the lamp that is never turned off.
  2. Jack's grandfather suffered from polio, a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease.
  3. She tiptoed through the cubicle, examining the dusty wooden chair, and made her way past her boss, who was on the phone with a contractor.
  4. As an environmental researcher, I study the effects of global warming, which has been a hot topic in recent years.
  5. The group of nearly ten executives, under the leadership of Senator Aldrich, enjoyed the secrecy and placidity of the luxurious Jekyll Island.
  6. According to the article, the train that had crashed into the wall had no conductor on board.