Page 592 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

prepositional phrases can also be stretched with modifiers and
compound objects: beside Katie’s bright blue dance shoes and

pink-and-purple designer leotard. More often, though, the three-

word pattern prevails.

Practice 12-5 Eliminating Prepositional

Phrases

Cross out the prepositional phrases in the following sentences.

1. The vivid colors of the flowers in the blue bowl on the table

brighten the room.

2. Outside the office, on the busy street, swarms of happy

vacationers were leaving for weekend trips.
3. The point of Mr. Smith’s remarks to the class was lost on

Kendall, who dozed peacefully in the back row.

4. For dessert, I’ll have a cup of coffee and a slice of that

gooey, rich pecan pie.

5. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and frying bacon wafted

through the open door of the small restaurant on the corner of
Poplar and Main.

Real-World Writing: Is It Okay to

End a Sentence

with a Preposition?