What is an introductory prepositional phrase?

An introductory prepositional phrase is a group of words that starts a sentence and consists of a preposition followed by its object. It tells us something about the time, place, or manner of the action described in the main part of the sentence.

Here's a breakdown:

* Preposition: A word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (the object) and another word in the sentence. Examples: on, in, at, by, with, for, from, to, etc.

* Object: The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition and tells us *what* the preposition is referring to.

Examples:

* After the game, we went to the park.

* In the morning, the sun rises in the east.

* With a smile on her face, she greeted the guests.

* From the bottom of the hill, they could see the entire city.

Characteristics of Introductory Prepositional Phrases:

* They always begin a sentence.

* They are followed by a comma.

* They add context and detail to the main part of the sentence.

Why are they important?

* Clarity: They help clarify the context and meaning of the sentence.

* Variety: They add variety to sentence structure and make writing more interesting.

* Emphasis: They can help emphasize the main part of the sentence.

Remember: A sentence can have multiple introductory prepositional phrases.

For example:

* After the long drive, in the late afternoon, we finally arrived at our destination.