Using Phrasal Modifiers: Using Phrasal Modifiers (#2)

Using Phrasal Modifiers (#2)

In Grammar Hint 172, we reviewed one way that phrases
can be used to modify nouns. Here is another way--by using
prepositional phrases.

Look at these two sentences containing prepositional phrases
showing places:

Alice has a son.
Alice's son is in elementary school.

Now look at two more sentences--but this time with
prepositional phrases showing time:

There's a meeting.
The meeting is at 3:30 PM

There are many ways to combine these sentences. One way
is by using phrasal modifiers:

Alice has a son in elementary school.

There's a meeting at 3:30 PM.

More than one phrase can be used to describe a noun.
To see how this works, let's add some sentences to the
ones we used above:

Alice has a son.
Alice's son is in the fourth grade.
Alice's son is at George Washington School.

There's a meeting.
The meeting is at 3:30 PM.
The meeting is next Wednesday.

There are many ways to combine the sentences above.
One way is by using phrasal modifiers:

Alice has a son in the fourth grade
at George Washington School.

There's a meeting at 3:30 PM
next Wednesday.

Notice that . . .

1.		. . . prepositional phrases come after the noun that they modify.
2.		. . . if there are two or more prepositional phrases, they can be combined. If they show places, smaller places come before  larger places. If they show times, shorter times come before  longer times.

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How would you use phrases as modifiers in the sentences
below? In what order would you arrange the phrases?

The class will meet at 10:00 AM.
The class will meet during June and July.
The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Bob lives in a small apartment.
Bob lives in southern California.
Bob lives on Oak Street.
Bob lives in a small town.

The special flight is in the afternoon.
The special flight is every day.
The special flight is at 2:40.
The special flight during May and June.

Your keys are in the living room.
Your keys are next to the magazines.
Your keys are on the coffee table.
Your keys are in a small dish.