Elementary New Testament Greek, 2014a

But while most prepositional phrases are adverbial (modifying verbs), some are
adjectival (modifying nouns). This is most clearly signaled by the prepositional
phrase standing in attributive position, just as if the whole prepositional phrase were
an adjective:
Internal Attributive Position
Internal Attributive Position
...
the good apostle…
This means that a prepositional phrase can be diagrammed by setting it beneath that
portion of the sentence which it modies: beneath the verb (if adverbial, as usual),
or beneath any given noun it might on occasion modify (if adjectival).
The apostle preached the gospel to the farmers
from Asia in the Spirit about Jesus from Samaria
...
the in-the-house apostle… or
the apostle who is/was in the house…
Adverbial
Adjectival
External Attributive Position
...
the good apostle…
...
the in-the-house apostle… or
the apostle who is/was in the house…
As you might have expected, an adjectival prepositional phrase can also be found in
substantive position, as if the whole phrase were functioning like a simple adjective:
Prexed Prepositions
As you grow in your study of Greek, you will discover that a great many verbs have
prepositions prexed to them. All 17 prepositions you are learning in this chapter can
be attached to verbs in this way. [Those prepositions never attaching themselves to
verbs are called “improper” prepositions. We will not be studying them.]
...
...
Substantive Position
the good (one)…
the in-the-house (one)… or
the one who is/was in the house…
Though only a few of the verbs in our core vocabulary (words used 100 times or more
in the GNT) have prepositions prexed to them, it will be helpful to lay a foundation
at this point explaining how those prepositions could affect the meaning of a given
verb. Thankfully, English can be helpful to us here again.
6: Prepositions
76