Prepositions Notes

 

  1. Finding the Prepositional Phrase

 

A prepositional phrase is a word or phrase that shows the relation between the noun that it takes as an object and some other word in the sentence.

Some common prepositions:

Aboard                        amidst              beneath            down                of                     since                 with                 

About               among              between          during               off                    throughout       within              

Above              around              beyond             except              on                    to                     without

According to            as for                but (meaning            for                    on account of            toward             near                 

Across             at                     except)             from                 out                   under                onto                

After                because of      by                    in                      out of               until                  over

Along               before              by means of            inside                outside             up                    past

Amid                behind              by way of         into                   regarding         upon                

Against below               beside              concerning        like

 

The preposition together with its object and the modifiers of the object is called a prepositional phrase.

             The boy fell off the boat.  (off is the preposition, boat is its object, the modifies boat.)

            Helen went to the corner store.  (to is the preposition, store is its object, the and corner modifies store.)

            The man with the boot, cares not wear he steps.  (with is the preposition, boot is its object, the modifies boot.)

 

 

 

           

  1. Preposition or Adverb

 

Many prepositions are also adverbs.  The difference? 

A preposition always has a noun or pronoun following it that acts as its object. 

An adverb has no object.  (Remember, an adverb answers where, when, how, why, to what extent.  It modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.)

 

Everyone went out the back door.  Out is a preposition since it has door following it as its object.

Do you want to go out?  Out is an adverb since it has no object following it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Prepositional Phrases Used as a Modifiers

 

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its objects, and any modifiers of the object.

 

Prepositional phrases that modify nouns or pronouns are adjective phrases, since the entire phrase acts like an adjective modifying a noun or pronoun.  These phrases tell which one, what kind, or how many about the noun or pronoun it modifies.

 

Did Mom read the news article about me?  About me is an adjective prepositional phrase modifying article.

 

Prepositional phrases that modify verbs are adverb phrases, since the entire phrase acts like an adverb modifying a verb.  These phrases tell how, when, where, and to what extent about the verb it modifies.

 

Marlene put the flowers into a vase.  Into a vase is an adverb prepositional phrase modifying the verb, put.

 

Sometimes two prepositional phrases (or more) may be in a row.  Sometimes the second phrase is an adjective phrase modifying the (noun) object of the first phrase.

 

Marlene put the flowers into a vase of water.  Of water is an adjective prepositional phrase modifying the noun, vase.  Vase is the object of the first prepositional phrase.  (See above.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Conjunctions

 

A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words.

            The most common coordinating conjunctions are:  and, but , and or.

 

Janice and Howard are going swimming.            I’d like to come, but I can’t.

 

            Some common correlative conjunctions are used in pairs:

 

                        Both…and                   not only…but (also)

                        Either…or                 whether … or

                        Neither…nor

 

I need both pens and pencils.             Either Nancy or Betsy will help.