In recent years- is this a prepositional or adjective phrase

Expert replies

Chinn_asama: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 77; Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:14 pm; Thanked: 1 times

by Chinn_asama » Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:08 am

Hi

Is 'in recent years' a preposition phrase or an adjective phrase? Is context essential in saying whether this is a prepositional phrase or not. Can I say, since the phrase starts with a preposition, it is a prepositional phrase?

Ex:In recent years, the trade between the two countries has come down.

Regards

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:08 am

Kasia@EconomistGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 646; Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 7:08 amFollowed by: 143 members; Thanked: 322 times

by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:38 pm

"In recent years" is a prepositional phrase. At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition.
Another example: She is on the computer.

An adjective phrase or an adjectival phrase is a more complicated issue. This term can refer to a phrase built upon an adjective, which functions as the head of that phrase. For example, the phrase "much quicker than I" is based on the adjective 'quick', and the phrase "fond of animals" is based on the adjective 'fond'.

A different use of the term "adjectival phrase" is for a phrase that modifies a noun as an adjective would, even if it does not contain or is not based on an adjective. These may be more precisely distinguished as phrasal noun modifiers. For example, in "Mr Clinton is a man of wealth," the prepositional phrase "of wealth" modifies a man the way an adjective would, and it could be reworded with an adjective as "Mr Clinton is a wealthy man."

Kasia
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT - the #1 rated GMAT course

"¢ If you found my post helpful, please click the "thank" button and/or follow me.

"¢ Take a 7 day free trial and find out why Economist GMAT is the highest rated GMAT course - https://gmat.economist.com/

"¢ Read GMAT Economist reviews - https://reviews.beatthegmat.com/economis ... mat-course

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review