Sentence Structure: Prepositional Phrases

In English, every sentence needs a subject. However, when using prepositional phrases students sometimes miss the subject. The solution to a missing subject can be simply to remove a preposition. Other solutions to a missing subject include restructuring the sentence. Look at the example below, which can be corrected by removing either in or by or by using a comma to change the sentence structure.

Incorrect: “In the article by Borenstein states that Peking Man could survive icy conditions.”

Correct: “The article by Borenstein states that Peking Man could survive icy conditions.”

Correct: “In the article, Borenstein states that Peking Man could survive icy conditions.”

Some common prepositions:

in	to	by	after	except	despite
on	out	from	along	upon	during
of	at	as	with	across	among

Other examples, where a preposition has to be removed in order to provide a subject for the sentence:

By asking his name, age and comfort level allows my patient to be involved in the treatment.
At 9 o’clock is when the lecture begins.
~~With~~ hard work helps me to keep up-to-date with my studies.

Try now to correct the following:

In the lecture by Dr Bahra cleared up the confusion.
As the late class made me miss my bus.
During driving to Montreal made me very tired.
As the weather yesterday was hot and humid.
With Caroline and I are going to the mall tomorrow.
At Dr Brown’s office is full of books.
Among everyone in the class failed their mid-term test.
After Soheil tried to tell me how to get to his house.

Check possible answers

For guidance, read the Sentence Structure Tip Sheet.