Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Prepositions A word that shows a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word in a sentence Also, any way a squirrel can go.

What does that mean? -Think of a tree with a hole in it -Think of a squirrel on the ground -Think of the different ways a squirrel can be related to the tree

Better example: A squirrel can go up, down, around, over, beneath, into, on top of, under, around… the tree

Your turn Come up with a list of 20 prepositions.

Prepositional phrases A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, an object (noun or pronoun), and possibly one or more adjectives

Examples “Around town” preposition- around object-town modifier/s- there are none in this example

More- Over the river Preposition- over Object- river Modifier- the

Multiple phrases and multiple modifiers In the deep blue sea around the whole wide world. Prepositions- in and around Objects-sea and world Modifiers- the deep blue, and whole wide

How Prepositional phrases act Like Adverbs Remember, adverbs modify verbs and answer the questions when, where, how, and to what extent. Like Adjectives Remember, adjectives modify nouns and pronouns and answer the questions which one, what kind, and how many.

Example We wanted to go down town. Prepositional phrase- down town Functions as an adverb… modifies the verb “to go” and answers “where?”

Another example The guys on the team left early to get to the game. Prepositional Phrase 1 “on the team” Acts like an adjective modifies the noun “guys” answers the question “which one/s?” Prepositional Phrase 2 “to the game” Acts like an adverb Modifies the verb “left” Answers the question “when?”

One final note Knowing where prepositional phrases are will help you better understand subject verb agreement.

Example Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go. What’s the subject and the verb? eliminate the prepositions and it’s easy

Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go. Subject- We Verb- Go *** without eliminating prepositional phrases, it’s kind of tough to tell.

Subject Verb Agreement The guy on one of those teams is/are happy. What’s the correct verb and why?