CLASS NOTES: THE PREPOSITION
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another
word in the sentence.
EX: The runner raced around the track.
The runner raced across the track.
The runner raced down the track.
*Note: changing the preposition changes the relationship between the runner to the
track
Commonly Used Prepositions:
aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
as
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
but (except)
by
down
during
except
for
from
in
in front of
inside
instead
into
like
near
next to
of
off
on
out
out of
outside
over
past
since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
unlike
until
up
up to
upon
with
within
without
****Students should memorize this list! The bold-faced words (but – meaning
except – and outside have been added to the list in the textbook on p. 104)
“But” is a preposition when it is used to mean except.
EX: Everyone (but Tim) went to the swimming party.
(means except Tim)
THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a noun or pronoun called the object
of the preposition, and any modifiers (adjectives) of the preposition. The object of
the preposition will be a noun or pronoun. Prepositional phrases may have
compound objects. AND…there may be more than one prepositional phrase in a
sentence.
Miss Setree gave bright red apples to her homeroom students. (to is the
preposition, students is the object of the preposition, and her/homeroom are
modifiers of the object.)
We raced down the hall to the cafeteria for our lunch period. (This sentence has
three prepositional phrases: down the hall, to the cafeteria, and for our lunch
period.)
Would you pass the pickles to Dan and Sarah? (this phrase has a compound object
– Dan, Sarah)
***Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase beginning with to (to the
gym; to her) with an infinitive form of a verb. (to talk; to begin; to jump)