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GRAMMAR
school is out, I bicycle [3]
to the store and join the other
[4]
enthusiastic customers. [5]
I stroll through the
aisles and [6]
study the selections. I listen [7]
as the
loudspeaker announces the day’s specials. When I have decided
what I want, I [8]
figure out which items I can afford. Then
I walk [9]
to the cash register. I grin [10]
as I think of
how much I will enjoy the music.
The Preposition
STYLE
TIP
In formal writing, it is often
considered best to avoid
ending a sentence with a
preposition. However, this
usage is becoming more
accepted in casual speech
and informal writing. You
should follow your
teacher’s instructions on
sentences ending with
prepositions.
12h. A preposition is a word that shows the relationship of
a noun or pronoun to another word.
Notice how changing the preposition in these sentences changes
the relationship of walked to door and kite to tree.
The cat walked through the door.
The cat walked toward the door.
The cat walked past the door.
The kite in the tree is mine.
The kite beside the tree is mine.
The kite in front of the tree is mine. [Notice that a
preposition may be made up of more than one word.
Such a preposition is called a compound preposition.]
Commonly Used Prepositions
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Chapter 12
aboard
before
for
off
toward
about
behind
from
on
under
above
below
in
out
underneath
across
beneath
in front of
out of
unlike
after
beside
inside
over
until
against
between
instead
past
up
along
beyond
into
since
up to
among
by
like
through
upon
around
down
near
throughout
with
as
during
next to
till
within
at
except
of
to
without
Parts of Speech Overview
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Writing Prepositions
Write two prepositions for each blank in the following sentences.
Be prepared to tell how the meanings of the two resulting
sentences differ.
EXAMPLE
1. The car raced
1. along, across
the highway.
HELP
In the example
for Exercise 11, the car
was on the highway. In
the second sentence, the
car crossed the highway.
1. We practiced karate
dinner.
2. She jumped up and ran
the park.
3. A boat with red sails sailed
the river.
4. The hungry dog crawled
the fence.
5. The marathon runner jogged easily
the track at
the stadium.
6. Put the speakers
the stage, Cody.
7. Brightly colored confetti streamed
the piñata when it
burst open.
8. Why does Roseanne always sit
the door?
9. Excuse me, but the blue fountain pen
your chair is
mine, I believe.
10. Parrots
the South American jungle squawked all
through the hot afternoon.
The Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a noun or
pronoun called the object of the preposition, and any
modifiers of that object.
EXAMPLES
You can press those leaves under glass. [The noun glass
is the object of the preposition under.]
Fred stood in front of us. [The pronoun us is the object
of the compound preposition in front of.]
The books in my new pack are heavy. [The noun pack is
the object of the preposition in. The words my and new
modify pack.]
A preposition may have more than one object.
EXAMPLES
Thelma’s telegram to Nina and Ralph contained
good news. [The preposition to relates its objects,
Nina and Ralph, to telegram.]
rsal
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OVERBO
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permission
The Preposition
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371
GRAMMAR
Exercise 11
12
h
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The objects of prepositions may have modifiers.
GRAMMAR
EXAMPLE
It happened during the last examination. [The and last
are adjectives modifying examination, which is the object
of the preposition during.]
NOTE
Reference Note
For more about infinitives, see page 414.
Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase beginning
with to (to the park, to him) with an infinitive beginning with to (to
sing, to be heard).
Exercise 12 Identifying Prepositional Phrases
HELP
Some sentences
in Exercise 12 contain more
than one prepositional
phrase.
Identify the prepositional phrases in the following sentences.
Underline the preposition once and its object twice.
EXAMPLES
1. Commander Robert Peary claimed that he reached the
North Pole in 1909.
1. in 1909
2. Peary and Matthew Henson searched for the North
Pole for many years.
2. for the North Pole, for many years
1. Henson traveled with Peary on every expedition
except the first one.
2. However, for a long time, Henson received
no credit at all for his role.
3. Peary had hired Henson as an assistant on a trip
Peary made to Nicaragua.
4. There, Peary discovered that Henson had
sailing experience and could also chart a path
through the jungle.
5. As a result, Peary asked Henson to join his
Arctic expedition shown in the photograph
on this page.
6. The two explorers became friends during their travels in
the North.
7. On the last three miles to the North Pole, Henson did not
go with Peary.
8. Because he was the leader of.the trip, Peary received the
credit for the achievement.
9. Finally, after many years, Henson was honored by Congress,
Maryland’s state government,.and two U.S..presidents.
10. Both Peary and Henson wrote books about their experiences.
372
Chapter 12
Parts of Speech Overview
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Some words may be used either as prepositions or as adverbs.
Remember that a preposition always has an object. An adverb
never does. If you can’t tell whether a word is used as an adverb
or a preposition, look for an object.
ADVERB
PREPOSITION
I haven’t seen him since.
I haven’t seen him since Thursday. [Thursday is the
object of the preposition since.]
ADVERBS
PREPOSITIONS
The bear walked around and then went inside.
The bear walked around the yard and then went
inside the cabin. [Yard is the object of the preposition around. Cabin is the object of inside.]
Exercise 13 Identifying Adverbs and Prepositions
TIPS
&
TRICKS
When you are looking for
the object of a preposition,
be careful. Sometimes the
object comes before, not
after, the preposition.
EXAMPLES
Here is the CD that I was
looking for yesterday.
[That is the object of the
preposition for.]
She is the speaker whom
we enjoyed listening to so
much. [Whom is the
object of the preposition
to.]
Identify the italicized word in each of the following sentences as
either an adverb or a preposition.
EXAMPLE
1. He watches uneasily as the hunter slowly brings the
pistol up.
1. up—adverb
1. “The Most Dangerous Game” is the story of Rainsford, a
famous hunter who falls off a boat and comes ashore on a
strange island.
2. Rainsford knows that this island is feared by every sailor who
passes by.
3. In fact, among sailors, the place is known as Ship-Trap Island.
4. After looking around for several hours, Rainsford can’t
understand why the island is considered so dangerous.
5. Finally, he discovers a big house on a high bluff.
6. A man with a pistol in his hand answers the door.
7. Putting his pistol down, the man introduces Rainsford to the
famous hunter General Zaroff.
8. Zaroff invites Rainsford inside.
9. Soon, however, Rainsford wishes he could get out and never
see Zaroff again.
10. Rainsford has finally discovered the secret about the island—
Zaroff likes to hunt human beings!
Link to
Literature
The Preposition
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GRAMMAR
Preposition or Adverb?