Which sentence uses two prepositional phrases?
A. The swarm of killer bees was reportedly migrating north.
B. The helicopter landed among the cars in the parking lot.
C,. The case mystified the detectives through the long winter.
D. The camera monitoring the perimeter was hidden under the ivy.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. The helicopter landed among the cars in the parking lot.
Explanation:
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (e.g., “in,” “on,” “under,” “between”) followed by a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition). Prepositional phrases function as modifiers, providing additional information about time, location, direction, or other relationships.
Let’s break down each sentence to understand why option B is the correct one:
- A. The swarm of killer bees was reportedly migrating north.
- In this sentence, “of killer bees” is a prepositional phrase (the preposition “of” + the object “killer bees”), but there is only one prepositional phrase in this sentence. There is no second prepositional phrase.
- B. The helicopter landed among the cars in the parking lot.
- This sentence contains two prepositional phrases:
- “among the cars” (preposition “among” + object “the cars”)
- “in the parking lot” (preposition “in” + object “the parking lot”)
- Both phrases describe the location of the helicopter, providing more detailed information about where the action of landing occurred.
- C. The case mystified the detectives through the long winter.
- The prepositional phrase in this sentence is “through the long winter” (preposition “through” + object “the long winter”). This sentence contains only one prepositional phrase, not two.
- D. The camera monitoring the perimeter was hidden under the ivy.
- This sentence contains only one prepositional phrase: “under the ivy” (preposition “under” + object “the ivy”). Although “monitoring the perimeter” describes the camera’s action, it is not a prepositional phrase—it’s a participial phrase modifying “the camera.”
Why Option B is Correct:
In option B, the sentence includes two distinct prepositional phrases, making it the only choice that fits the requirement. The first prepositional phrase “among the cars” tells us the location of the helicopter in relation to the cars, while the second, “in the parking lot,” further specifies the location, placing the cars within a larger context. These two prepositional phrases work together to provide a clearer picture of the helicopter’s location.