A preposition is a part of speech that shows a relationship between two things.

•Location (on, under, in)

•Timing (before, after, during)

•Direction (from, toward, to)

Prepositions

Prepositions

The mouse is on the table.

Relationship: one is on the other

Two things: mouse + table

The mouse is under the table.

Relationship: one is under the other

Here is a list of the most common prepositions.

aboard along behindbut

(except)from off past until

about amid below by in on since up

above among beneath down inside onto through upon

across around beside during into out to with

after at between except near outside toward within

against before beyond for of over under without

Test Your Knowledge 1

Which word is a preposition?

The pizza in the oven is mine.

Test Your Knowledge 2

Which word is a preposition?

The girl by the door is my sister.

Test Your Knowledge 3

Which word is a preposition?

The runners raced around the track.

Let’s look again at the sentences you practiced with.

The pizza in the oven is mine.

The girl by the door is my sister.

The runners raced around the track.

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

in the oven

by the door

around the track

Prepositional phrases start with a preposition and end with the object of a preposition.

Prep.

Prep.

Prep.

Object

Object

Object

Object of a Preposition

The object of a preposition•must be a noun or a pronoun•always comes at the end of a prepositional phrase

Example: The cookies are in the oven.

*Hint: The sentence subject and verb will not be a part of the prep. phrase.

The object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers (adjectives) to describe it.

Identify the Prepositional Phrase

1. Players are often named All-American for outstanding performances.

2. A few players join professional teams after graduation from college.

3. Some teams win medals at international games.

4. The best players are noted for their leadership on the court.

5. The stadium was filled with excited students.

Prepostion or Adverb?

Some words can be used either as prepositions or as adverbs.

-A preposition has an object.

ex. Mark looked out the window.

-An adverb doesn’t have an object (stands alone)

ex. Put the cat out!

Read each sentence and decide whether the word in bold print is a prepositon or an adverb.

1. Bring the dog in right now!

2. The dog is in his house.

3. Let’s throw the ball around before the game.

4. The guys threw the ball around the bases.

5. Down, down, the rain poured

6. The rain rushed down the gutters rapidly.

7. Look outside and see the lightning.

8. Outside the window we saw lightning.

What do prepositional phrases do?

A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb.

As an adjective, the prepositional phrase will answer the question Which one?

Ex. The book on the bathroom floor is wet and dirty.

(Which book? The one on the bathroom floor!)

Ex. The note from Beverly was lost in the mail.

(Which note? The one from Beverly!)

What do prepositional phrases do?

A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb.

As an adverb, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such as How? When? or Where?

Ex. Freddy is stiff from yesterday's football practice.

(How did Freddy get stiff? From yesterday‘s football practice!)

Ex. Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil.

(When did Josh do his begging? Before class!)

Preposition vs. Particle

A word that looks like a preposition but is actually part of a verb is called a particle.

Held up is a verb meaning “to rob.”

Therefore, up is not a preposition, and bank is not the object of a preposition.

Avoid Confusion

To avoid confusing prepositions with particles, test by moving the word (up) and words following it to the front of the sentence:

Four armed men held up the bank.

Ex. Up the bank four armed men held.

If the resulting sentence does not make sense, then the word belongs with the verb and is a particle, not a preposition.

Yes

No

Prepositions vs. Particles (cont.)

Here is a list of common particles:

Give in Turn in Pull through Wore out Broke up

Put in for Bring up Go in for Found out Blow up

Look up Make up Look over

Identify the prepositions in the following sentences.

1. The cat climbed up the tree.

2. The girl from Mexico didn’t speak English.

3. I put my socks in the drawer of the dresser.

4. Ken looked up the answer to the question.

5. Once upon a time there was an enchanted forest.

6. Ricardo turned quickly to his left.

7. After the movie we ate dinner at my favorite restaurant.

8. Students should always make up their work when they are absent from school.

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