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prepositional phrase

Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A group beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun

Detailed Definition
Prepositional phrases situate elements in space, time, or relation (“beneath stars,” “after dusk”), enabling precise imagery; their versatility makes them essential for building layered scenes where physical and emotional landscapes intersect.
Example
Example in poetry:
In the shadow of the tree, beneath the moon’s gaze, beside the silent well, beyond the edge of the world—each prepositional phrase anchors the soul in space.
Additional Notes
Prepositional phrases specify location, time, or relation: “In the shadow of the tree”; they ground abstract emotion in physical space; use precisely—each preposition should carry meaning; avoid vagueness: “at the edge” is weak; “at the edge of the cliff where the wind sings” is strong; related to locative phrase and determinative phrase; effective in poems of belonging, memory, or exile.
Also Known As
prepositional construction prepositional modifier
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