1. Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Grammar Lessons Continued
Lecture Notes

2. Prepositions
A preposition is a word that expresses a relationship between some words in a sentence, usually in regard to time (when) or space (where).
Prepositions act similarly to an adverb (an adverb modifies verbs, adjectives and other adverbs) –they answer the questions where?, when?, how? and to what extent? about the words they modify
Common Prepositions
About, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, as before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between , beyond, but, by, concerning, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, into, like, near, next, of, off, on, onto, out, outside, over, past, since, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, unlike, until, under, up, upon, with, within, without

3. Prepositional Phrases
In order for a word to be considered a preposition, it must be part of a prepositional phrase – a prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun.
The noun or pronoun at the end is called the object of the preposition.
Examples:
Across the street
Across = Preposition
Street = Object of the Preposition
Across the street = Prepositional Phrase
Over the top
Beyond her comprehension
Around the corner

4. Prepositional Phrases
A preposition must always be a part of a prepositional phrase and must be the first word in the phrase.
If it does not begin the phrase, it is an adverb. For example: underneath
I lifted the log carefully, looked underneath, and saw a centipede. – Adverb or Prepositional Phrase?
Sally found her mother’s slippers underneath the bed. – Adverb or Prepositional Phrase?