Prepositions v. Adverbs

Prepositions v. Adverbs

How to Determine if the Word is a Preposition or an Adverb?

Match

Match the following

• connects a noun or noun phrase to another word in the sentence

• a word that describes a verb, adjective, or adverb

• a word that describes a noun or pronoun

• a person, place, thing or idea

• an action or state of being

preposition

adverb

adjective

noun

verb

• preposition

• adverb

• adjective

• noun

• verb

​Some words can be used as either prepositions or adverbs. Here are some examples of words we normally think of as prepositions that can also be adverbs.

Preposition or Adverb?

Prepositions

Characteristics:

• It must be part of a prepositional phrase.

• Prepositions never stand alone in a sentence. 🚫

• If the word has an object (noun or pronoun), it's probably a preposition. 🏠👨🚒💭

Prepositions

Example:

"...he put his fingers in his ears as usual, and sang loudly to drown my voice." ^{--from Home}

"Ears" is the object of the word "in", so "in" is used as a preposition.

"In his ears" is the prepositional phrase.

Multiple Select

Check all that apply: Which of the following can be both a preposition and an adverb?

• before

• in

• inside

• reading

Dropdown

Choose all of the following that are TRUE:​

Select answer

Select answer

Multiple Choice

"The sight of her little head with a bun on top of it sticking out of that huge coat makes me want to run back into my room and get under the covers." What is the preposition?

• coat

• under

• little

• me

Multiple Choice

"The sight of her little head with a bun on top of it sticking out of that huge coat makes me want to run back into my room and get under the covers." What is the object of the preposition "under"?

• coat

• back

• covers

• room

Adverbs

Characteristics:

• No object; it's probably an adverb.

• Adverbs tell how, when, where, or why

Adverbs

Example:

"....barracks were built with green pine that shrank and left cracks between the boards, allowing sand and insects to seep and creep inside." ^{--from Dear Miss Breed}

• Inside describes (modifies) the verb creep.

• Inside does NOT have an object.

• Inside answers the question "Where?", so in this example inside is an adverb

Dropdown

Adverbs answer _{(choose all that apply):​} ​

Select answer

​

Select answer

​

Select answer

​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

"With shining eyes, he bent down, picked up a rock and fired it toward one of the windows." What is the adverb?

• windows

• he

• picked

• down

Open Ended

Explain the difference between a preposition and an adverb. As always use complete sentences!