AboutRosemary Lenc Expertise I am a retired Middle School teacher. I am an expert in grammar (structure of the English
language) and writing. I have been a volunteer with AOL Ask A Teacher and have
submitted many articles and special collections (one on diagramming sentences and one
with worksheets and answers so students can check their own practice on grammar skills)
to their knowledge database. I still am with them but would like other work where I can
help students with their English study. I have time to help you with this, if you want me. I
can help with grade school, middle school and high school grammar & writing and can
also look up information on literature (reading) for students and help them with it.
Please let me know if I can be of help in these areas. Thank you.
Rosemary Lenc
Experience
Past/Present clients Have helped many, many students in grade school language arts, middle school and high
school grammar and writing in both the chat rooms (live help that AOL use to have) and
message board answers plus the many students i have taught as a teacher.
Question Ok. I need help with adverb pharses. I don't get it. I know that first you find the prep. phrase and then you find the word it describes. But i can't find the word it describes.
Answer Dear Sabrina,
Remember that an adverb answers the questions, where, when, why and to what extent or degree. A phrase is a group of related words. A prepositional phrase is a phrase starting with a preposition and ending with the object of the preposition. An adverb phrase will answer the questions that an adverb answers. Thus the adverb phrase will modify a verb and answer where, when, why. Adverbs that answer to what degree or to what extent will modify an adjective or another adverb.
Examples:
Yesterday, John brought Mary a box of candy.
Yesterday is an adverb telling when he brought the candy and thus it modifies the verb, brought.
Likewise a prepositional phrase can answer the question, when.
Example: They met us in the afternoon. In the afternoon is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb, met and tells when they met us.
Example of adverb phrase modifying the verb answering the question where.
The runner jogged along the deserted beach. Along the deserted beach is a prepositional phrase that tells where the runner jogged. It modifies the verb jogged and tells answers the question, where.
Example of adverb phrase answering the question, why.
Because of the weather, few people visit in winter.
Because of (preposition) the weather, tells why few people visit. It modifies the verb, visit.
If an adverb or adverb phrase answers the question to what extent or degree, it will always modify an adjective or another adverb.
Example: That place is famous for its fossils. For its fossils is a prepositional phrase telling why the place is famous. It modifies the predicate adjective, famous.
Another example: He was successful in many endeavors. In many endeavors modifies the predicate adjective, successful.
Just remember that if the prepositional phrase answers the questions, when, where, how, it modifies the verb.
If it answers the question, to what extent or degree, it modifies an adjective or another adverb.
You can find more help on this at these sites:
My website: http://members.cox.net/teachro/. Click on grammar and then on prepositional phrases. I have explanations there and practice and then answers so you can check yourself.
