304. The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition, and is used with it to make a phrase, is the object of the preposition. The preposition is used to show the relation that exists between its object and the word the object modifies. In the sentence above, The boys are hiding in the bushes, the preposition in shows the relationship between the verb phrase, are hiding and the object of the preposition, bushes.
The noun or pronoun which is the object of a preposition may also have its modifiers. In the sentences used about the noun bush, which is the object of the prepositions used, is modified by the adjective the. Other modifiers might also be added, as for example:
- The boys are hiding in the tall, thick bushes.
The entire phrase, in the tall, thick bushes, is made up of the preposition in, its object bushes and the modifiers of bushes, the, tall and thick.
305. The preposition, with its object and the modifiers of the object, forms a phrase which we call a prepositional phrase. These prepositional phrases may be used either as adjectives or as adverbs, so we have our definitions:
A preposition is a word that shows the relation of its object to some other word.
A phrase is a group of words used as a single word.
A prepositional phrase is a phrase composed of a preposition and its object and modifiers.
An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase used as an adjective.
An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase used as an adverb.