Post on 26-Mar-2015
Prepositions
Prepositions show position.
Prepositions establish relationships between objects.
Think of prepositions as anything a monkey can do in a tree:
Up the tree, down the tree, around the tree, through the branches, between the branches, under the leaves, to the tree, from the tree, by the tree, near the tree, with the tree, beyond the tree.
The only prepositions that don’t work with this “money & tree” rule are except, during, and of.
Prepositions come in phrases and end with a noun or a pronoun.
Muffy chased the gardener around the house, through the petunias, and into the pool.
Prepositional phrases can have adjectives:
Luther accidentally stepped on a long black red and yellow snake.
My house is the one with the hideous bright blue paint job.
Caution!
Don’t mistake an infinitive verb for a prepositional phrase.
An infinitive verb begins with “to” and ends with a verb
A prepositional phrase ends with a noun or pronoun.
For example . . . .
Prepositional phrases: I’m going to the mall this weekend. The flight to Las Vegas was bumpy.
Infinitive phrases: I have much work to do. Sheila has decided to quit her job.
Let’s practice identifying prepositional phrases. Click on the prepositional phrase.
Lucas was daydreaming of his next surfing vacation.
Not quite!
Click here to try again.
Yes!
Click here to try another sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
I would love a piece of apple pie.
You missed it!
Click here to try again.
Right!
Click here for another sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
During the preacher’s sermon, my nephew fell asleep and began to snore.
Oops! That’s an infinitive verb!
Remember, a prepositional phrase ends with a noun or a pronoun.
An infinitive verb ends with a verb.
Click here to try again.
You’ve got it!
Click here for another sentence.
Identify the prepositional phrase.
I have never told anyone the story about your unicycle accident.
Not quite!
Click here to try again.
Yes!
Click here to move on to the next sentence.
Identify the prepositional phrase.
I have made this fresh lasagna just for you.
Oops!
Click here to try again.
You’ve got it!
Click here for a new sentence.
Identify the prepositional phrase.
After the summer rain, the corn looked brighter and greener.
Oops!
Click here to try again.
Great!
Click here for the next sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
I think that I’m finally beginning to understand the parts of speech.
Careful! “To understand” is an infinitive verb!
Remember, a prepositional phrase ends in a noun or pronoun.
Click here to try again.
You’re right!
Click here for the next sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
Only two of the computers have been updated.
Oops!
Click here to try again.
Right!
Click here for the next sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
We waited anxiously for the doctor to announce the test results.
Watch out for infinitive verbs!
Click here to try again.
Right!
Click here for another sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
I can’t seem to find my keys; they’re not on the coffee table.
Watch out for infinitive phrases!
Click here to try again.
You’ve got it!
Click here for another sentence.
Click on the prepositional phrase.
Please sit here beside us and tell us your vacation stories.
Not exactly.
Click here to try again.
You’ve got it!
This concludes the lesson on prepositions. Continue taking practice exercises on our class home page.