Adverb or adjective
Shocked at the size of the fish, the man dropped his pole into the water.

In the above sentence "at the size is" an adverb modifying the word "shocked", and the prepositional phrase "of the fish" is an adverb or an adjective? As I understand it is modifying the adverb "at the size".

Thank you

Question

Adverb or adjective
Shocked at the size of the fish, the man dropped his pole into the water.

In the above sentence "at the size is" an adverb modifying the word "shocked", and the prepositional phrase "of the fish" is an adverb or an adjective? As I understand it is modifying the adverb "at the size".

Thank you

Answer

that is correct. "of the fish" is an adjectival prepositional phrase that modifies the noun "size".

"at the size of the fish" is an adverbial prepositional phrase that modifies the adjective "Shocked", telling why you are shocked. "Shocked at the size of the fish" is an opening adjectival phrase that describes the noun "man".

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