Prepositions

Prepositions

Middle School

What Are Prepositions?

• Prepositions are words that show relationships between words in a sentence.
• They often tell you about location, time, or direction.
• A preposition connects a noun or a pronoun to another word.
• These words begin phrases called prepositional phrases, like "under the bridge."
• Common examples include words like 'in', 'on', 'at', 'before', and 'after'.

Learning Objectives

• Identify prepositions and prepositional phrases in sentences.
• Explain how prepositions connect words and show relationships.
• Use effective prepositions to make your writing clearer.

What are Prepositions?

• A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and another word.
• Think of them as glue words that connect ideas in your sentences.
• They can tell you about a location, like something being in the box.
• They also help to show time, such as an event happening before class.
• Prepositions can show direction, like walking toward or around the building.
• Using them makes your writing and speaking much clearer and more precise.

Let's Learn with an Example

Let's look at this sentence: The brave squirrel scurried up the tall oak tree.
• The word 'up' shows location, making it the preposition.
• The noun 'tree' is the object of the preposition 'up.'
• The prepositional phrase is 'up the tall oak tree.'
• This phrase tells us where the squirrel scurried, modifying the verb.

Lets Practice Together

Multiple Choice

In the sentence, 'She found her keys between the couch cushions,' which word is the preposition?

• between

• found

• cushions

• her

Lets give it
a Try

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences contains a prepositional phrase that describes *how* something was done?

• He finished the test with minutes to spare.

• The book on the top shelf is dusty.

• She walked towards the loud music.

• They will arrive after the movie starts.

Summary

• A preposition connects a noun or pronoun to another word.
• It shows relationships of time, location, or direction.
• A prepositional phrase includes the preposition, its object, and modifiers.
• These phrases make your writing clearer and more descriptive.
• Always check for an object after the preposition to find the phrase.