Name: ____________________________________________________
Nylivia Norman Date: __________________
LESSON 26
Prepositions
A preposition shows the relationship that exists between its object (the noun or
pronoun that follows it), and some other word or group of words in a sentence.
Notice in the following sentences the number of different relationships shown
between the verb erupted and the noun town.
examples
Problems erupted near our town.
Problems erupted outside our town.
Problems erupted beside our town.
Problems erupted within our town.
The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the object of the
preposition. Together, the preposition, the object of the preposition, and the
modifiers of that object form a prepositional phrase. In the following sentence,
against the wall, in my room, and on the bricks are all prepositional phrases.
I fell against the wall in my room and hit my head on the bricks.
To test a word to see if it is a preposition, ask questions like “against what?,” “in
what?,” or “on what?” The answers are “wall,” “room,” and “bricks.” All three are
objects of prepositions. Therefore, there are three prepositional phrases in the
sentence.
Below is a list of common prepositions. Remember, though, that any word on
this list may not always be used as a preposition. When it is used as a preposition, it
always has an object.
Prepositions
aboard among between for over until
about around beyond from past up
above at but (meaning “except”) in since upon
across before by into through with
after behind concerning like throughout within
against below down of to without
along beside during off under
amid besides except on underneath
A compound preposition contains more than one word. It functions in a sentence
the same way that a single-word preposition functions. It allows writers to express
© EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL IV, UNIT 3 101
relationships such as in front of, on top of, and next to. Some commonly used
compound prepositions include aside from, because of, in addition to, in place of,
instead of, according to, out of, as of, and in back of.
examples
Tony played first base in place of the injured Dana.
Please put the garbage cans in front of the cars.
EXERCISE 1
Identifying Prepositional Phrases in Literature
Identify the eleven prepositional phrases in the literature passage below.
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And some one called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
from “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” page 414
W.B. Yeats
EXERCISE 2
Understanding Prepositional Phrases
Complete each of the following sentences, supplying a preposition and an object of
the preposition in each blank. Some objects of the preposition may be more than
one word. Some sentences may make the most sense with a compound preposition.
1. The videotape sat on the
tabel .
2. The racers jumped over the
hurdles .
102 LEVEL IV, UNIT 3 Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style © EMC Publishing, LLC
3. We are staying by the lake .
4. You can see the bridge just over the
hill .
5. She sent money a(n)
6. The actors gathered the
7. We’ve enjoyed your teaching the
8. Will you be finished the
9. I have every one of his CDs the
10. I felt the ground shake
EXERCISE 3
Using Prepositional Phrases in Your Writing
Write a description of a process or skill that you know well, such as riding a
skateboard or using a computer, for someone who wants to learn the process or skill.
Use prepositional phrases to guide your reader so that he or she knows what to do
and how to do it. In your paragraph, use at least five prepositional phrases, including
at least two compound prepositions. Use your own sheet of paper for this exercise.
© EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL IV, UNIT 3 103
