Understanding and Falling in Love with Prepositional Phrases

Overview: What is a preposition? Prepositions express the relationship (often in time or space) between two words in a sentence. They are always used in prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases do the same work as (act like) adjectives and adverbs. – Remember, adjectives modify nouns and pronouns – Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. – Therefore, depending on the sentence context, prepositional phrases can do all of that – acting as either an adverb or an adjective!

Overview: Examples of Prepositions Prepositions express the relationship (often in time or space) between two words in a sentence. about byover abovedespitepast acrossduringsince after forthrough againstfrom‘till alonginto aroundinsidetoward atintounder beforelikeuntil behindnearup belowofup beneathoffupon besideonwithin betweenoutsidewithout

How do I learn all the prepositions? Memorize. It’s simple. There will be a quiz on Friday. Yes, you must list all of the prepositions on our list. Don’t worry, there’s a song.

Aside from the song, there’s another trick.

Anything you can do to a tree.

Prepositional Phrases Begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun (known as the object of the preposition). Modify the first word (noun or verb) in the relationship. Function as adjective or adverbs.

Directions: Find the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Try to identify the preposition and its object. Please put the apple on the table. The cat with white fur is mine. Acts as an adverb: Where should the apple be put? Acts as an adjective: What kind of cat?

On the first day of June, Mike took his dog to the park in the afternoon. The dog ran over the grass and chased a squirrel up a tree. Mike ran after his dog and searched for it. He finally found the dog just before sunset.