Prepositions

Prepositions

​Prepositions

Prepositions usually appear before a noun or pronoun, establishing a relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other parts of the sentence. Often short words that indicate direction or location, prepositions must be memorized in order to be recognized.

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Some very common prepositions: at, by, from, in, of, on, to, and with.

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Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

​Prepositions

A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE is comprised of a preposition and its object. The object of a preposition is a noun or a pronoun.

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For example: ​Preposition (in) + Object (the water) = Prepositional Phrase (in the water).

Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

​Prepositions

Since the object of a preposition is a noun or a pronoun, writers occasionally confuse the object of the preposition with the subject of a sentence. The subject of a sentence is NEVER in the prepositional phrase.

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The subject of a sentence is NEVER in the prepositional phrase.

Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

​Prepositions

Be aware that sentences can have back-to-back prepositional phrases.

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Example: You’ll find the keys in the kitchen on the counter near the refrigerator. All the words in bold are a prepositional phrase. Therefore, the subject is You.

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Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

​Prepositions

The preposition to + verb is NOT a prepositional phrase. This construction is merely the infinitive form of the verb.

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• to eat

• to drink

Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

​Prepositions

If you want to improve on reading comprehension, add variety to your sentences, and reduce the chance that you’ll make a subject-verb agreement error, make sure you can identify prepositional phrases. It’s a good idea to begin some sentences with prepositional phrases in order to emphasize key ideas and create sentence variety.

Identifying Nouns, Subjects, and Verbs

Multiple Choice

True or False. The subject of a sentence will never be in the prepositional phrase?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The preposition to + verb is NOT a prepositional phrase.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The noun that ends a prepositional phrase is called the:

• pronoun

• finis

• object of the preposition

• finishing noun

Multiple Choice

A preposition is used in a group of words called a:

• prepositional phrase

• prepositional clause

• adjective phrase

• verbal phrase

Multiple Choice

The information that a prepositional phrase adds to the sentence can answer which of the following questions:

• when

• which one

• where

• Prepositional phrases can answer all of these questions.

Multiple Choice

Prepositional phrases provide necessary _____ to sentences.

• details

• goals

• problems

• ideas

Multiple Choice

Which list contains prepositions only?

• with, for, by, near, under, to, toss, slowly, uncle

• at, before, of, until, over, past, throughout, during

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the following sentence?

I need to run to the grocery store after school.

• run

• "to run"

• need

• after

Multiple Select

What is/are the subject(s) in the following sentence? Check all that apply.

She gave me a ton of help on my math assignment.

• She

• ton

• help

• math assignment

Multiple Select

What is/are the subject(s) in the following sentence? Check all that apply.

The grove of orange trees make the entire hillside beautiful when they bloom in the spring.

• trees

• hillside

• grove

• they

Multiple Select

What is/are the subject(s) in the following sentence?

Watch your head when you walk into the room.

• Your

• you

• (You)

• head

Multiple Choice

Is there a subject in the following sentence?

Run!!!

• Yes

• No

Multiple Select

What is the subject in the following sentence?

Around the corner was a small apartment.

• apartment

• small

• corner

• around

Multiple Select

Check each word that is either a subject or a verb in the following sentence:

When the manager of Staples began to fumble awkwardly for his keys, the robber began to grow impatient.

• manager

• Staples

• began

• fumble

• grow

Multiple Select

Check each word that is either a subject or a verb in the following sentence:

Why do you and Kevin insist on being the bane of my existence?

• on being

• you

• existence

• do insist

• Kevin

Multiple Choice

Select the correct pair of subjects and verbs in the following sentence:

The stack of baseball and football cards on the floor are going to be swept up by the sweeper.

• baseball + football cards / are going

• stack / are going

• baseball + football cards / to be swept up

• stack / to be swept up

• None are correct pairs

Multiple Choice

What is the subject in the following sentence?

From the ceiling hung the chandelier.

• ceiling

• hung

• chandelier

• None are the subject

Multiple Select

What is/are the subject(s) in the following famous English idiom which?

Behind every great man is a great woman - probably rolling her eyes at him.

• man

• woman

• eyes

• him

• NONE are the subject.