A prepositional adverb looks like a preposition but functions like an adverb, modifying the verb in a sentence. It does not include an object and cannot be moved within a sentence. Examples include “down” and “outside.”
A prepositional adverb takes the form of a preposition, meaning it’s typically the same type of word, but functions in a sentence like an adverb. For example, in the sentence “He fell,” the word “down” is very similar to a preposition used in a sentence like “Walk down the stairs.” In the example above, however, it functions as an adverb describing the verb “fall,” rather than providing location information. A prepositional adverb is often found at the end of a sentence and is not followed by an object that is in a prepositional phrase with it, such as “scale” in the second example.
The basic building blocks of any word type are its form and function, which describe what a word looks like and how it acts in a sentence. A prepositional adverb takes the form of a preposition, it can cause some confusion for speakers of a new language. This means that it’s often words like “in,” “on,” and “around,” which are typically used as prepositions in a sentence. Unlike other uses, however, a prepositional adverb does not include an object after providing details about where something is located or happening, such as the prepositional phrases “on the table” or “under the bed.”
A prepositional adverb works like an adverb within a sentence, meaning that it modifies or describes a verb and the action taking place. For example, in the sentence “We should walk outside,” the word “outside” is a prepositional adverb that modifies the verb “to walk.” This is the same function as an adverb such as “quickly” in the sentence “We should walk quickly,” except that it takes the form of a preposition rather than the familiar form of the adverb ending in “-ly.” In both sentences, however, the adverb provides additional information and modifies the verb, and in these two examples they both come after the verb.
One way a prepositional adverb is different from other types, however, is that adverbs can usually be moved around within a sentence. The above example could be rewritten as “We should walk fast” and still make sense. A prepositional adverb, however, cannot be moved since it is in the form of a preposition; “We should walk outside,” may still be understandable, but it is grammatically incorrect and embarrassing to read or say. These adverbs typically occur at the end of a sentence and are not followed by an object, as are standard prepositions. “Think outside the box,” uses “outside” as a preposition, requiring the object “box” for meaning.
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