Prepositional

Phrase
 What is a Preposition?
• A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or
phrases to other words within a sentence.
• They act to connect the people, objects, time and
locations of a sentence.
• Prepositions are usually short words, and they are
normally placed directly in front of nouns.
 Types of Prepositions
• Time prepositions are those such as before, after,
during, and until;
• Place prepositions are those indicating position, such as
around, between, and against; and
• Direction prepositions are those indicative of direction,
such as across, up, and down.
 Prepositions of Time

• Basic examples of time prepositions include: at,

on, in, before and after. They are used to help
indicate when something happened, happens or
will happen.
For example:

• I was born on July 4th, 1982.

• I was born in 1982.
• I was born at exactly 2am.
• I was born two minutes before my twin brother.
• I was born after the Great War ended.
 Prepositions of Place

• To confuse matters a bit, the most common

prepositions to indicate time – on, at, in – are also
the most common prepositions to indicate
position. However, the rules are a little clearer as
place prepositions are a more rigid concept than
time prepositions.
• The cat is on the table.
• The dogs are in the kennel.
• We can meet at the crossroads.
On is used when referring to something with a
surface:

• The sculpture hangs on the wall.

• The images are on the page.
• The specials are on the menu, which is on the
table.
 In is used when referring to something that is
inside or within confined boundaries. This
could be anything, even a country:

• Jim is in France, visiting his aunt in the hospital.

• The whiskey is in the jar in the fridge.
• The girls play in the garden.
At is used when referring to something at
a specific point:

• The boys are at the entrance at the movie theater.

• He stood at the bus stop at the corner of Water
and High streets.
• We will meet at the airport.
 There is, however, a lot less confusion as
they refer to rigid positions rather than
abstract ones.
• The cat is under the table.
• Put the sandwich over there.
• The key is locked inside the car.
• They stepped outside the house.
• Major is ranked above corporal.
• He is waving at you from below the stairs.
 Preposition of
Movement/Direction
• they describe how something or someone moves
from one place to another. The most commonly
used preposition of movement is to, which usually
serves to highlight that there is movement
towards a specific destination.
 Example Sentences
• He has gone on vacation to France.
• Rebecca and Judi are swimming across the lake.
• The train passes through the tunnel.
• James went into the room.
• Jack went up the hill.
• Jill came tumbling down after.
• We will travel over rough terrain on our way to Grandma’s house.
• The horse runs around the track all morning.
• A car zoomed past a truck on the highway
 Prepositions Exercises
1. The bone was _______ the dog.
a. About
b. For
c. After
d. Considering
2. We are going on vacation _______ August.
a. On
b. At
c. In
d. Since
3. Please put the vase ________ the table.
a. In
b. On
c. For
d. Over
4. I received a present ________ Janet.
a. From
b. Of
c. By
d. About
5. School begins ________ Monday.
a. In
b. On
c. From
d. Since
 Prepositional Phrase

•A prepositional phrase is a group of words

containing a preposition, a noun or pronoun object
of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object.
The most commonly used prepositions
 It is useful to locate prepositional phrases in
sentences since any noun or pronoun within the
prepositional phrase must be the preposition’s
object and, therefore, cannot be misidentified as a
verb’s direct object.
A word that looks like a preposition but is actually
part of a verb is called a particle.
Some other examples of particles:
Answers:
• 1. up the stairs
• 2. around the block
• 3. under my bed
• 4. behind the door
• 5. without your coat
• 6. During lunch / had a basketball tournament
• 7. at a high speed
• 8. for a fraction of the cost
• 9. at any cost
• 10. At noon
• 11. in jeopardy
• 12. sat on top
• 13. out of reach
• 14. over the car
• 15. under the train
• 16 . alongside the railroad tracks
Answers:
1. little, green, parrot
2. Football coach
3. English teacher
4. Summer rain
5. Good, family home
6. Championship game
7. Crying child
8. Yellow, brick, road
9. Beautiful play
10. Dark horse
11. Big, brown, dog
Answers:
1. little, green, turtle
2. Soccer coach
3. Math teacher
4. Spring rain
5. Good, family home
 Helping Verbs

Be Am Is Are Was Were Being Been

Have Has Had Do Does Did May Might
Must Can Could Shall Will Should Ought
Would
Underline the helping verb once and the main verb twice.
1. We could have saved more money.
2. The tide was creeping in.
3. Mike will ride in the back seat.
4. The water has been running all morning.
5. The player could not hear the coach.
6. It might be a long wait.
7. Selma would have stayed out of the rain.
8. The morning is looking beautiful.
9. Weddings can be expensive.
10.Underwater divers are sifting through the remains of the old ship.
11.Those strawberries may have been the sweetest ever!
12.Tonight should be more fun than yesterday.
13.Friday’s game may have been the best one of the year.
14.The batter did trot around the bases.
15.Ron is being sent to Denmark on business.