Prepositions & Prepositional Phrases

Adding vivid, specific details to your writing

Students,

Please get out your homework (if you did not turn it in yesterday) and wait quietly for further instructions.

All about prepositions Prepositions are used to explain more

details about parts of a sentence. They are used in phrases that relate

the position of one word to some other word in the sentence.

For example: What words could fit in the blank to relate the table to the placement of the box?

Lee placed the box the table.

All about prepositionsLee placed the box the

table. All the words that fit the blank

are examples of prepositions. Notice that prepositions are

always used in phrases: on the table, beside my entire family, below them.

All about prepositionsLee placed the box the table.

All the words that fit the blank are examples of prepositions.

Notice that prepositions are always used in phrases: on the table, beside my entire family, below them.

The noun or pronoun at the end of the phrase is called the object of the preposition.

A List of Common Prepositions

Here are some of the most common prepo-sitions. Learn to recognize these and use them in your writing. Can you think of some phrases that use these prepositions?

about across after around atbefore behind below down during

for from in inside intonear of off on outside over

past since through to underuntil up upon with within

Four hints about prepositions

Here are some hints about prepositions.1. Prepositions and prepositional phrases never include verbs.For example: Do these sentences use “to” as a preposition?

Shari left the house and walked to the store.Find the boys, give this letter to them, and return.Check out my report to learn about giraffes.

The first two sentences use “to” as a preposition. The third does not. “To learn” is a phrase that ends with a verb, so it cannot be a prepositional phrase.

Four hints about prepositions

2. Prepositions only occur in phrases.If a word looks like a preposition but is used without a phrase, it’s probably something else (like an adverb, perhaps).For example: Do these sentences use “down” as a preposition?

It’s easy to fall down if you aren’t used to skating.Tony ran down the stairs to greet his Uncle Frank.

Only the second sentence uses “down” as a preposition; it has a phrase that ends with a noun. The first “down” is an adverb.

Four hints about prepositions

3. If two words right next to each other seem to be prepositions, one of them is an __________________.For example: What are the prepositional phrases in these sentences?

My mother said I should never go down by the bay.“Stay outside near the trees,” the captain said.Could you hike up with me later?

Four hints about prepositions

3. You will never find two prepositions right next to each other.If two words right next to each other seem to be prepositions, only one of them really is.For example: What are the prepositional phrases in these sentences?

My mother said I should never go down by the bay.“Stay outside near the trees,” the captain said.Could you hike up with me later?

Only the highlighted words are the prepositional phrases.

Four hints about prepositions

4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a noun or a pronoun.When you reach the noun or pronoun that’s being connected to the rest of the sentence, you have reached the end of that phrase. Sometimes two phrases are next to each other.For example: What are the phrases below?

You are among friends in this city, so rest well.Maude greeted Sami and talked with her at the door.Maryanne walked with her aunt for half an hour.

Four hints about prepositions

4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a noun or a pronoun.When you reach the noun or pronoun that’s being connected to the rest of the sentence, you have reached the end of that phrase. Sometimes two phrases are next to each other.For example: What are the phrases below?

You are among friends in this city, so rest well.Maude greeted Sami and talked with her at the door.Maryanne walked with her aunt for half an hour.

Four hints about prepositions

4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a noun or a pronoun.A side note: There are some exceptions. It used to be said that a sentence or phrase should never end with a preposition. This rule has changed over time, and now it is sometimes acceptable. However, make sure it’s really the best option for that sentence.For example:

Everyone left early, so Sue had no one to walk with.If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you. (This works, but a better sentence might be…) If you need to talk to someone, I’m here for you.

Use these words in prepositional phrases

Using what you have learned so far, write sentences that use these words in prepositional phrases.in oftooutside after with over

Use these words in prepositional phrases

Now check the answers...

Miranda walked in the door and dropped her keys on the table.

The story of the kings kept Joey’s interest for hours. I would like to watch the game with them. (NO)Antonio finished his work and went outside. (NO)After solving the crime, Watson sipped his tea

contentedly. (NO)Tara went with her family to Great Adventure. If you aren’t careful on the steps, you’ll fall over. (NO)

Different jobs for prepositional phrases

Good work with prepositional phrases so far!

The next part of this presentation will explain how prepositional phrases have

different jobs. These jobs depend on what the phrases are talking about in

different sentences.

Adjective Phrases When a prepositional phrase

describes a noun, it is called an adjective phrase.

To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you must look back or ahead to see what the phrase modifies. What phrases do you see below?

The cake in the oven will be finished after an hour.

Adjective Phrases When a prepositional phrase describes

a noun, it is called an adjective phrase. To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you

must look back or ahead to see what the phrase is related to. What phrases do you see below?

The cake in the oven will be finished after an hour.

This phrase is related to cake, which is a noun. That’s how we know it’s an adjective phrase.

Adjective Phrases When a prepositional phrase describes

a noun, it is called an adjective phrase. To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you

must look back or ahead to see what the phrase is related to. What phrases do you see below?

The cake in the oven will be finished after an hour.

This phrase is related to finished, which is a verb; so this is not an adjective phrase.

Practice Adjective Phrases

Practice writing sentences with adjective phrases. Use these phrases to describe nouns in your sentences.in a lakeon the groundfrom his motheracross the path

Adverb Phrases Prepositional phrases can also act like

adverbs. These are called adverb phrases.

Adverb phrases explain when, where, or how something happened or will happen.

As with adjective phrases, you must look back or ahead to see what the phrase is related to. What phrases do you see below?

After school, the three friends walked past the bakery.

Adverb Phrases Prepositional phrases can also act like

adverbs. These are called adverb phrases. Adverb phrases explain when, where, or

how something happened or will happen. As with adjective phrases, you must look

back or ahead to see what the phrase is related to. What phrases do you see below?

After school, the three friends walked past the bakery.

“After school” is an adverb phrase that explains when “walked” took place.

Adverb Phrases Prepositional phrases can also act like

adverbs. These are called adverb phrases. Adverb phrases explain when, where, or

how something happened or will happen. As with adjective phrases, you must look

back or ahead to see what the phrase is related to. What phrases do you see below?

After school, the three friends walked past the bakery.

“Past the bakery” is also an adverb phrase that explains where “walked” took place.

Practice Adverb Phrases

Now practice writing sentences with adverb phrases. Include prepositional phrases that describe these verbs.threwsearchedgatheredwas thinking

Keep using prepositional phrasesPrepositional phrases can make your sentences stronger by giving specific

details.

They can also help vary your sentence structure, because

prepositional phrases can often be used in different parts of sentences.

Try using them in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence to see

what works. Keep writing!

Pop (open note) quiz

If the word is not used as a preposition, explain why. If it is used as a preposition, write down the entire phrase. 1. Miranda walked in the door and dropped her keys on the table.2. The story of the kings kept Joey’s interest for hours.3. I would like to watch the game with them.4. Antonio finished his work and went outside.5. After solving the crime, Watson sipped his tea contentedly.6. Tara went with her family to Great Adventure.7. If you aren’t careful on the steps, you’ll fall over.

Writing prompt

If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would you change and why?