Prepositions Grade7 Topic Assessment Mixed Grade 6 Assessment

Complete the sentence with the group of words that forms a complete prepositional phrase: The soccer ball rolled quickly _______.

• down the steep hill

• down

• the steep hill

• and then rolled

Answer explanation

A prepositional phrase must start with a preposition ('down') and include its object ('hill') and any modifiers ('the steep'). 'down' is only the preposition, 'the steep hill' is the object phrase without its preposition, and 'and then rolled' is a verb phrase.

Read the sentence: 'Maria left her science textbook on the kitchen counter.' What is the object of the preposition in this sentence?

• textbook

• kitchen

• counter

• Maria

Answer explanation

The preposition is 'on'. The object of the preposition is the noun that follows and is governed by the preposition, which is 'counter'. 'Textbook' is the direct object of the verb 'left', and 'kitchen' is an adjective modifying 'counter'.

In which sentence is the word 'down' used as a preposition?

• The tired hiker sat down.

• The tired hiker walked down the trail.

• Both A and B.

• Neither A nor B.

Answer explanation

A preposition must have an object. In sentence B, 'down' has the object 'trail' (the phrase is 'down the trail'). In sentence A, 'down' is an adverb that answers 'where' the hiker sat and has no object.

Which sentence correctly uses a prepositional phrase as an adjective to describe the noun 'puppy'?

• The puppy was cute with floppy ears.

• The puppy with floppy ears was cute.

• The puppy was with floppy ears cute.

• Cute the puppy was with floppy ears.

Answer explanation

The correct answer places the adjectival phrase 'with floppy ears' directly after the noun it modifies, 'puppy'. Option A uses the phrase adverbially to modify 'was cute'. Options C and D have incorrect word order, making them ungrammatical.

Count the total number of prepositional phrases in this sentence: 'After the game, we walked to the store for a snack.'

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

Answer explanation

The three prepositional phrases are 'After the game,' 'to the store,' and 'for a snack.' An introductory phrase like 'After the game' is still a prepositional phrase, even when set off by a comma. The other phrases function as adverbs telling where and why.

Combine these parts into the most conventional sentence, placing the adverbial phrase at the end: (Subject: The birds), (Verb: chirped), (Prepositional Phrase: outside my window).

• Chirped the birds outside my window.

• Outside my window the birds chirped.

• The birds outside my window chirped.

• The birds chirped outside my window.

Answer explanation

This option follows the standard Subject-Verb-Adverbial Phrase structure, which is the most common and clear construction. While Option B is grammatically possible, placing the phrase at the end is the most conventional order. Option A uses an inverted structure (V-S), and Option C incorrectly splits the main verb from its subject.

Complete the sentence with the correct preposition of place: My mom told me to wait for her right _______ the main entrance of the mall.

• on

• in

• at

• over

Answer explanation

The preposition 'at' is used to refer to a specific point or location, like an entrance. We use 'in' for enclosed spaces (e.g., 'in the mall') and 'on' for surfaces. 'Over' is incorrect as it implies being above the entrance.

Which of the following sentences uses a preposition of place incorrectly?

• My friend lives on Maple Street.

• The library is located at 451 Main Avenue.

• We found the perfect picnic spot in the park.

• Their apartment is in 123 Oak Drive.

Answer explanation

The preposition 'at' is used for a specific, numbered address ('at 123 Oak Drive'). 'In' is incorrect in this case. We use 'on' for a street without a number (Option A) and 'in' for a larger area like a park or city (Option C).

Complete the sentence with the correct pair of prepositions: I left my backpack _______ the car near the curb, and my lunchbox is _______ the kitchen table.

• at, in

• on, at

• in, on

• by, over

Answer explanation

We use 'in' for enclosed spaces like a car and 'on' for surfaces like a table. The phrase 'near the curb' is extra information and doesn't change the preposition needed for 'the car'. The other pairs misuse these rules.

A diagram shows a bed against a wall. A poster is on the same wall, directly centered 3 feet higher than the bed. Which sentence best describes the poster's location?

• The poster is in the wall next to my bed.

• The poster is at the wall from my bed.

• The poster is on the wall above my bed.

• The poster is through the wall under my bed.

Answer explanation

Items are placed 'on' a vertical surface like a wall. 'Above' correctly describes the spatial relationship of the poster being higher than the bed. 'In the wall' is illogical, 'at' is for points, and 'under' is the opposite of the described location.