Kimberley Tucker, Arab City Schools Preposition Practice Kimberley Tucker, Arab City Schools Initial lesson plus 16 days of bell ringers

What is a preposition? A preposition is one of the eight parts of speech. Some common prepositions include Except, before, after, of, to, from, for, during, beside, between, among, into, above, below, include, like, as, at, in, since, within, near, through, toward, within, etc. A preposition cannot be the subject, verb, or object of the sentence. Provide students with a list of common prepositions.

A Prepositional Phrase Adds Information Functions as an Adjective or Adverb The prepositional phrase adds information, acting like an adjective or adverb. It can always be removed from the sentence, leaving a complete sentence. A prepositional phrase always contains extra information; therefore, it cannot function as an essential part of the sentence.

A prepositional phrase is not an infinitive To + Noun or Pronoun = Prepositional Phrase To + Verb = Infinitive

Hatter dashes through the looking glass to save Alyss from Redd. Prepositional Phrase Prepositional Phrase = Preposition + Object (a noun or pronoun) There may be adjectives and/or adverbs modifying the object of the preposition; they are located between the preposition and its object. Because it provides additional information, the prepositional phrase can describe, or modify, a noun, adjective, or adverb. Looking glass is a compound noun; however, one might argue that looking is an adjective modifying glass. Preposition Object Preposition Object Hatter dashes through the looking glass to save Alyss from Redd.

Uses of the prepositional Phrase Modifies the verb Adverb: Hatter dashes through the looking glass to save Alyss from Redd. Adjective: The kitten in the market appears to be sweet and harmless. Modifies the infinitive Modifies the noun

Break it down The kitten in the market appears to be Identify the part of speech for each word. Article Noun Preposition Noun Verb Infinitive The kitten in the market appears to be sweet and harmless. Article Conjunction Adjective Adjective

Mark It up Hatter dashes [through] the looking glass Underline the prepositional phrase. Put [brackets] around the preposition. Circle its object. Identify its function within the sentence. Adverb Hatter dashes [through] the looking glass to save Alyss [from] Redd. Adverb

Punctuation In Wondertropolis on Alyss’s birthday, they have a celebration in her honor. Notice that the only time a comma is needed with a prepositional phrase is when there are two or more prepositional phrases or one long prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence.

Practice Sentence 1

Unscramble the sentence one of the bloodiest ones undoubtedly in all the longest war it was but of recorded history hadn’t been the civil war

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. The civil war hadn’t been the longest war in all of recorded history, but undoubtedly, it was one of the bloodiest wars.

Break it down The civil war hadn’t been the longest wars in all Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. Adjective Noun Adverb Verb Verb Adjective Adjective Noun Preposition Noun The civil war hadn’t been the longest wars in all of recorded history, but undoubtedly, it was one of the bloodiest ones. Preposition Adjective Noun Conjunction Pronoun Verb Pronoun Adverb Preposition Adjective Adjective Pronoun

Mark It up Underline the prepositional phrase. Put [brackets] around the preposition. Circle the preposition’s object. The civil war hadn’t been the longest war in all of recorded history, but undoubtedly, it was one of the bloodiest ones. You is an actor, which can be thought of as a type of subject for the infinitive.

Imitate the sentence Using the previous sentence as a guide, create your own sentence. The civil war hadn’t been the longest war [in] all [of] recorded history, but undoubtedly, it was one [of] the bloodiest wars.

Practice Sentence 2

Unscramble the sentence to wrest control for an opportunity each watched and waited to make a move first from her keeping a none-too-friendly eye in case they happened on the other families

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. Each watched and waited for an opportunity to wrest control from her, keeping a none-too-friendly eye on the other families in case they happened to make a move first.

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. Pronoun Conjunction Preposition Infinitive Noun Each watched and waited for an opportunity to wrest control from her, keeping a none-too-friendly eye on the other families in case they happened to make a move first. Verb Verb Adjective Noun Preposition Adjective Adjective Preposition Adjective Pronoun Adjective Noun Adjective Noun Noun Verb Adjective Noun Adverb Preposition Pronoun Infinitive

Mark It up Underline the prepositional phrase. Put [brackets] around the preposition. Circle the preposition’s object. Each watched and waited for an opportunity to wrest control from her, keeping a none-too-friendly eye on the other families in case they happened to make a move first. You is an actor, which can be thought of as a type of subject for the infinitive.

Imitate it Using the previous sentence as a guide, create your own sentence. Each watched and waited [for] an opportunity to wrest control [from] her, keeping a none-too-friendly eye [on] the other families in case they happened to make a move first. This sentence contains items that students may find confusing; however, it provides a good teaching opportunity. To wrest is an infinitive, and in case is a subordinating conjunction for the adverb clause in case they happened to make a move first.

Practice Sentence 3

Unscramble the sentence was bored from the Everlasting Forest to the Valley of Mushrooms of their future queen to celebrate the seventh birthday Wonderlanders had come out of her wits who, as it happened,

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. From the Everlasting Forest to the Valley of Mushrooms, Wonderlanders had come to celebrate the seventh birthday of their future queen, who, as it happened, was bored out of her wits.

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. Preposition Noun Adjective Noun From the Everlasting Forest to the Valley of Mushrooms, Wonderlanders had come to celebrate the seventh birthday of their future queen, who, as it happened, was bored out of her wits. Adjective Preposition Verb Adjective Noun Verb Infinitive Adjective Pronoun Noun Adverb Verb Valley of Mushrooms is a proper noun; however, some students may note the prepositional phrase “of Mushrooms” with the title. Either is correct. Noun Preposition Adjective Pronoun Pronoun Verb Preposition Adjective Adverb Pronoun Noun

Mark it up Underline the prepositional phrase. Put [brackets] around the preposition. Circle the preposition’s object. From the Everlasting Forest to the Valley of Mushrooms, Wonderlanders had come to celebrate the seventh birthday of their future queen, who, as it happened, was bored out of her wits.

Imitate it Using the previous sentence as a guide, create your own sentence. [From] the Everlasting Forest [to] the Valley [of] Mushrooms, Wonderlanders had come to celebrate the seventh birthday [of] their future queen, who, as it happened, was bored [out of] her wits. Students may identify “of Mushrooms” as a separate prepositional phrase rather than a part of the proper noun Valley of Mushrooms. Either is correct.

Practice Sentence 4

Unscramble the sentence gathered to watch on the cobbled lane below she searched This sentence contains two infinitive phrases. the Inventors’ Parade among the Wonderlanders for him

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. She searched for him among the Wonderlanders gathered to watch the Inventors’ Parade on the cobbled lane below.

Break it down Identify the part of speech for each word in the previous sentence. Pronoun Preposition Preposition Noun Infinitive She searched for him among the Wonderlanders gathered to watch the Inventors’ Parade on the cobbled lane below. Verb Adjective Pronoun Verb “Inventor’s Parade” is a proper noun. Some students may say that “Inventor’s” is a possessive noun that functions as an adjective. Either is fine. Verb Adjective Noun Adjective Preposition Adjective Noun Adverb

Mark it up Underline the prepositional phrase. Put [brackets] around the preposition. Circle the preposition’s object. She searched for him among the Wonderlanders gathered to watch the Inventors’ Parade on the cobbled lane below.

Imitate it Using the previous sentence as a guide, create your own sentence. She searched [for] him [among] the Wonderlanders gathered to watch the Inventors’ Parade [on] the cobbled lane below.