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

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Practice
Sentence 1

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Practice
Sentence 2

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Practice
Sentence 3

23. 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,

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. Practice
Sentence 4

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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

32. 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.

33. 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.