ENG 001: Grammar and Composition

MODULE 7 : Prepositions

Content

F. PREPOSITIONS

Preposition are joining words, sometimes called connectives, which are used to show a time,
place, or ownership relation between two nouns/pronouns or a noun and a verb. Prepositions and the
nouns/pronouns that follow them are always grouped together and treated as a single grammar unit,
called prepositional phrases.

preposition + noun or pronoun = prepositional phrase

Time: after + the party = (after the party)
Place: under + the table = (under the table)
Ownership: of + our town = (of our town)

Prepositions are always the first word in a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are
used to add more detail to a sentence. The following sentence gives no details about the person or
her actions:
The girl walked.

Where did the girl walk? Perhaps she walked around the building:
The girl walked around the building.

The word around is a preposition which tells the relationship between the girl walked and
the building. Other prepositions show different relationships between the girl walked and the
building: Consider these prepositions.
The girl walked through the building. The
girl walked into the building. The girl
walked behind the building. The girl walked
to the building.
The girl walked beside the building. The
girl walked near the building.

In each sentence above, the prepositional phrases give more information about the verb
“walked” by telling where she walked. Adverb phrases can also be used to tell how, in what way,
when. Anything that modifies a verb is an adverb; therefore, these prepositional phrases, telling
where she walked, are called Prepositional phrases.

Prepositional phrases can also be used as adjectives to modify a noun or pronoun.

The colour of that paint is just right.
The driver in the 96 Ford was responsible. The
sweaters on the shelf match these jeans. The
books in that bag are yours.
Some boxes from Japan were delivered yesterday. They
rented the house on the corner.
The presents under the tree were delivered this morning.

In each example above, the prepositional phrase adds details about the noun. Because
these phrases function as adjectives, they are called prepositional adjective phrases.
Here are some common prepositions:
 about beyond out
above By outside
across down over
after during past
against except since
along For through
among from toward
at In under
before inside until
below into up
beneath Of with
beside Off without
between On within

A CLOSER LOOK AT PREPOSITIONS•

Prepositions are little words that show the relationship between nouns/pronouns or
tell when, where, how the action in a verb took place. Prepositions are always part of a group
of words called a prepositional phrase.

Some grammar textbooks list prepositions in two categories: simple and compound.
Review the list of prepositions on page 13 of this module before continuing. Compound
prepositions, sometimes called complex prepositions, consist of two or more words which are
treated as a single unit.

Example: They were standing in the middle of the football field. in the
middle of is the preposition
in the middle of the football field is the complete phrase

Here is a list of some compound prepositions.

in front of the house by means of a tow rope
on top of the hill in addition to their good health
ahead of everyone in spite of his good intentions
except for my sister out of kindness
as far as the gas station

These prepositional phrases can be used as adjectives that modify a noun/pronoun

or as adverbs that modify a verb.
after the accident = prepositional phrase
ù ù
preposition + noun

The noun or pronoun which completes the prepositional phrase is called the object of the
preposition. There are three prepositional phrases in the sentence below.
The students at Superior School went to the library with her. at Superior
School, to the library, with her

The underlined nouns or pronouns are called the object of the preposition. Prepositions
are also sometimes called connectives because their function in a sentence is to connect the
modifier with the thing it modifies.

Always use the personal pronouns me, you, him, her, it, us, them after a preposition.

Learning Activities

Activity 1: Prepositions
Read these sentences and then underline the prepositions. Draw a circle around the nouns
or pronouns that complete the prepositional phrase.

1. Put your coats on the bed in the guest room.

2. Paula walked through the park and then turned towards home.
3. She hid the presents behind the desk and under the stairs.
4. The colour of her dress was really flattering.
5. The books on airplanes were placed beside those on trains.
6. The chairs on the porch were painted white.
7. Guests with tickets entered first.
8. The sap from maple trees is boiled into a syrup.
9. We saw six pheasant on the road to Stanley.
10. The man with the long scarf just robbed the store in the mall.

Activity 2: Prepositions
Read these sentences. Underline the prepositions, circle the nouns/pronouns that
complete them, and then decide whether the prepositional phrase is used as an adjective or
an adverb.

1. My aunt in Sackville gave several of the antiques to Gene.

2. The camp beside ours was built in 1966 by John’s brother.
3. Since the crash, many of the survivors have received cash settlements.
4. In his new movie, Brad Pitt drives a car from Toronto to Los Angeles.
5. The time of day doesn’t matter.
6. The supervisor questioned the quality of her work.
7. A few of our friends from school arrived for supper at Julie’s.
8. None of the items on that page are available until July.
9. In 1992, most of the money disappeared.
10. The mine owners from Germany sold all of it to them.

Assessment

Assessment 1: Prepositions
A. Choose a preposition to join the following parts of sentences. How many different prepositions will
fill in the blank? For example:

Carl drove _________ the blank.

Answer: Carl drove to, from, around, near, beside, etc. the bank.

1. Dawn fell _____ the horse.

2. Earl worked _______ him.
3. I will meet you ______the front entrance.
4. The horse galloped _______ the field.
5. Smoking is not allowed ________ the building.

B. In the next part of this exercise, find and underline the prepositions.
1. They searched for shells and pebbles along the beach at the end of the day..
2. Krista searched among the rubble for pictures of her mother and father.
 3. I can never find a sales clerk or a cashier in this store!
4. I think all the odd socks in the world end up under my son's bed.

5. Be careful walking near the tree with the hornets' nest!

6. Down the hill and around the corner came the three lost children.
7. The cat with the sore ear comes to the door every day at noon.
8. The houses beside the store on top of the hill were built in 1960 by my son.
9. Have the women in your group chosen a theme for the conference?
10. The prize for the best costume was given to the clown with the funny hat.

C. Each prepositional phrase you found is working as either an adjective or an adverb in its
sentence. If it limits the meaning of a noun or pronoun, it is a prepositional adjective phrase. If it
is telling where, when, why or how the action of the verb took place, it is an prepositional adverb
phrase. Look at each prepositional phrase and decide if it is used as an adjective or adverb.
Here’s an example.

The blond woman with the red dress sat on the bench at 5:00 p.m.

with the red dress............ prepositional adjective phrase modifying “woman”

on the bench.................... where: ... prepositional adverb phrase modifying “sat”
at 5:00 p.m...................... when: ... prepositional adverb phrase modifying “sat”
Assessment 2: Prepositional Phrases
List the prepositional phrases in this exercise. After each one, tell whether it is used as an adjective or
an adverb

1. The men on the roof worked for two hours in the heat.
2. During the night, the rest of the water drained from the basement.
3. He lived near the mall which was located to the north of the city limits.
4. The women in the kitchen looked under the tables and in the closet.
5. The old lady with the big hat cut into the line in front of me at the store.
6. On Fridays, all of the staff at the radio station eats lunch at the old mill.
7. In the middle of a big spacious lawn, the designer placed a beautiful statue.
8. Because of the storm, the volunteers did not hear about the revised forms.
9. Since his return, the children from the day care at the church have walked around
the block every day.
10. After his graduation in 1992, he answered an ad for a job in Manitoba.