PREPOSITIONS We know the basic rules of subject verb agreement: Phillip plays the piano and the guitar. The kittens play all night long. The concept is a simple one. BUT… when a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE gets in the way, we sometimes find it difficult to determine the subject of a sentence. So, let’s learn to recognize a prepositional phrase when we see one. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

PREPOSITIONS show direction, position, movement, time, and, place. through over up behind across at

PREPOSITIONS You have been given a list of common prepositions, relating to time, place, position, direction, and movement. Please refer to them as we do our work. Prepositions show the relationship or connections between one part of a sentence and another part of the sentence. • Jill did the project WITH her best friend. (The sentence shows the relationship between Jill and her friend.) • The box is made entirely OF recycled plastic bottles. (This sentence shows the connection between of the box and plastic bottles.)

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES Prepositions are never alone. They are always part of a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases always BEGIN with a preposition and end with a noun or a pronoun. The noun or the pronoun is called the OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION (OOTP). to the store in the box with my friend OOTP OOTP OOTP

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES: LET’S PRACTICE. Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil. The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold. The leftover meatballs from last night’s party, taste even better a day later. The books on the bathroom floor are swollen from the shower steam. Identify the prepositional phrases Label the preposition. Label the OOTP. PREP PREP OOTP OOTP OOTP OOTP PREP PREP OOTP PREP PREP OOTP PREP OOTP

Now, if you cross out the prepositional phrases, Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil. The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold. The leftover meatballs from last night’s party, taste even better a day later. The books on the bathroom floor are swollen from the shower steam. you can more easily find the subjects and the verbs !!

Remember that a prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence. Let’s practice what we know. Follow the instructions on the task you have been given. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES