PREPOSITIONS, CONJUNCTIONS, AND INTERJECTIONS

Prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence. Sarah skated off the ice. Sarah skated onto the ice. Sarah skated over the ice. In the examples above, off, onto, and over show the relationship between the noun ice and the verb skated. In each example above, ice is the object of the preposition.

COMMON PREPOSITIONS aboutatdownnearto abovebeforeduringoftoward acrossbehindexceptoffunder afterbelowforon underneath againstbeneathfromontountil alongbesideinoutup amongbetweeninsideoverupon around but (except) intosincewith asbylikethroughwithout

COMMON COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS according to because ofin place of on account of ahead ofdue toin spite ofon top of along with in addition to instead ofout of as ofin front ofnext toprior to

THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION The o. of p. is always a noun, pronoun, or a noun clause. There may be more than one o. of p. ex. With poise, she walked to the stage. (noun) ex. The city welcomed the prime minister and scheduled a sightseeing tour for him. (pronoun) ex. Give the concert tickets to whoever requests them first. (noun clause) ex. Between January and July, Franklin gained twenty pounds. (compound o. of p.)

THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE The prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. A preposition does not show relationships by itself. It always begins a phrase (a group of words without both a subject and verb). ex. Martha indicated her approval with a nod. ex. The figures on a totem pole have special significance.

COMMAS BEHIND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES There are 3 situations when a prepositional phrase at the beginning of a sentence must be followed by a comma. 1) if the phrase is followed by a natural pause when read (According to our town’s fire marshal, working fire detectors can save lives.)

COMMAS BEHIND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES 2) After a series of prepositional phrases : (After three weeks of heavy rain in April, the farmer’s fields were wet and muddy.) 3) To avoid confusion : (Next to the new elementary school, houses were being built for employees of the city.)

ADVERB OR PREPOSITION? Many words used as prepositions can also be used as adverbs. A preposition is never used alone. It will always have an object. ex. The visitors walked around the house. (preposition) ex. The visitors walked around. (adv.) ex. The trees towered above the trail. (prep.) ex. The trees towered above. (adv.)

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES AS MODIFIERS Prepositional phrases can modify other words in sentences, just like adjectives and adverbs do. A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun is an adjective phrase (also known as an adjectival modifier). A prepositional phrase that modifies an adjective, adverb, or a verb is an adverb phrase (also known as an adverbial modifier ).

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES AS MODIFIERS The last room on the right is haunted. (The phrase answers the question which one about the noun room ; therefore, it is an adjective phrase.) All of the restaurant workers wear weird purple hats. (The phrase answers the question what kind about the pronoun all ; therefore, it is an adjective phrase.) No one could explain the reason for his sudden departure. (The phrase answers the question which one about the noun reason ; therefore, it is an adjective phrase.)

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES AS MODIFIERS The bottles are sealed by a huge machine. (The phrase answers the question how about the verb are sealed ; therefore, it is an adverb phrase.) Hendricks sulked on the beach. (The phrase answers the question where about the verb sulked ; therefore, it is an adverb phrase.) She acted courageously during the crisis. (The phrase answers the question when about the verb acted ; therefore, it is an adverb phrase.) The sun was hot as fire. (The phrase answers the question to what extent about the predicate adjective hot ; therefore, it is an adverb phrase.)

SEVERAL PHRASES IN A ROW Sometimes one prep. phrase follows another. Sometimes both phrases modify the same word. ex. We fished with minnows during the evening. (The adverb phrase with minnows tells how about the verb fished. The adverb phrase during the evening tells when about the same verb fished.)

SEVERAL PHRASES IN A ROW Frequently, however, the second phrase is an adjective phrase that modifies the object of the first phrase. ex. Sam topped the salad with bits of cheese. (The adverb phrase with bits tells how about the verb topped. Of cheese is an adjective phrase describing the noun bits.)

MISUSED PREPOSITIONS: AMONG/BETWEEN Between refers to two people or things. Among refers to three or more. ex. There is a peace treaty between the two countries. ex. We divided the work among the four of us.

MISUSED PREPOSITIONS: BESIDE/BESIDES Beside means “at the side of.” Besides means “in addition to.” ex. Secret Service agents stand beside the President. ex. There are other motives besides greed.

MISUSED PREPOSITIONS: IN/INTO In means “inside something.” Into suggests motion from the outside to the inside. ex. Mary stayed in the car. ex. I went into the house.

MISUSED PREPOSITIONS: OFF/FROM Do not use off when you mean from. WRONG: Tony borrowed a coat off me. RIGHT: Tony borrowed a coat from me. WRONG: He copied that off the internet. RIGHT: He copied that from the internet.

MISUSED PREPOSITIONS: ON/ONTO On means “upon something.” Onto suggests motion (sometimes to the top of something). ex. The teams were on the beach. ex. The beach ball sailed out onto the water.

PREPOSITIONS USED UNNECESSARILY: AT, OF, TO WRONG : Where are my gym clothes at? WRONG : I could not feel my toes inside of my boots. WRONG : Where did the Tuckers move to? WRONG : The book fell off of the desk. WRONG : He threw the book out of the window.

MISPLACED PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES A prep. phrase should be placed near the word it modifies. Otherwise, the meaning of your sentence may not be clear. WRONG: Pablo told many stories of his fascinating childhood in our class. RIGHT: In our class, Pablo told many stories of his fascinating childhood. (The phrase has been moved closer to the word told. )