Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 1:

Prepositions and Prepositional

Phrases
Definition:
 A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a word in the
sentence and the word that is the object of the preposition.
You have just finished the Modifiers Module. You learned that adjectives tell which
one, what kind, how much, and how many about a noun or pronoun. You learned
that adverbs tell where, when, how, and to what extent about verbs, adjectives, and
adverbs.

Sometimes the answers to those questions take more than one word. Often those
phrases are prepositional phrases.

Which one: The flower in the vase is a peony.

What kind: The umbrella with the polka-dots is Mary Anne's.
Where: We will be going to the movies.
When: My lunch period is after science.
How: You are walking on your tiptoes.
Definition:

A phrase is a group of words working together that does not have both a
subject and a verb. Phrases usually act as a single part of speech. (We will get
to that part later.)
Prepositions can never be alone, so it makes sense to learn about prepositions in
their phrases. Any lone preposition is actually an adverb.

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a word in the sentence
and the word that is the object of the preposition.

In the previous examples:

In shows the relationship between the flower and the vase.

With shows the relationship between the umbrella and the polka-dots.
To shows the relationship between where we are going and the movies.
After shows the relationship between our lunch and science class.
On shows the relationship between how we are walking and our tiptoes.

Definition:

The object of the preposition is the noun following the preposition that the
preposition is relating to something in the sentence.
In the previous examples, the objects are vase, polka-dots, movies, science class,
and tiptoes.
Hint:
To find the object of the preposition ask "What?" after the preposition.
The flower in the vase is a peony.
 You found in - ask "In what?" Answer - vase. Try it with the other
examples.

Definition:

A prepositional phrase is the preposition, the object of the preposition, and all
the modifiers between the two.

in (preposition) the vase (object)

with (preposition) the polka-dots (object)
to (preposition) the movies (object)
after (preposition) science class (object)
on (preposition) your tiptoes (object)

Some teachers have their students memorize a list of common prepositions. That can
be confusing because sometimes those same words act as adverbs. It is better to
understand how they show a relationship.

Some Common Prepositions

Prepositions of time: after, around, at, before, between, during, from, on,
until, at, in, from, since, for, during, within

Prepositions of place: above, across, against, along, among, around, at,

behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond,
by, down, in, inside, into, near, off, on, opposite,
out, over, past, through, to, toward, under,
underneath

Prepositions of at, for, on, to, in, into, onto, between

direction/movement:
 Prepositions of manner: by, on, in, like, with

Other types of by, with , of, for, by, like, as

prepositions:

Do you need to know what categories they fit into? Not really. It's just a way to sort
them. Remembering time, place, direction, and manner might help you remember
what prepositions do.

Hint:
The word to is often a preposition, but it is just as often part of an infinitive
verb. If the word after to is a verb, to is not a preposition.
Preposition: I want to go to Florida for vacation.
Infinitive Verb: I want to go to Florida for vacation.
Hint:
Think of prepositions as arrows.

to, at, for...

from, next to...
with, between...
above, on...
in, inside, under, below...

Hint:
One of the best ways to understand prepositional phrases is to learn how to
diagram sentences.

Practice What You've Learned

Part 1
Directions:
Click on the prepositions in each sentence.
 Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 2:

Compound Prepositions and

Compound Objects
Definition:

Compound prepositions are made up of two or more words. They may be

written as one word (They look like regular prepositions) or as two or more
separate words (They look like an adverb and a preposition or another
prepositional phrase). These separated prepositions are sometimes called
double prepositions, multiword prepositions, or phrase prepositions.
The bird \in the tree \outside my window is singing loudly. (one word compound)
The bird \on top of the tree \outside of my window is singing loudly. (multiword
compounds)
That movie will be playing from June 10 to June 23. (This is an unusual one because
the parts of the preposition are interrupted.)

Compound Objects

A preposition can have two or more objects.

The swimming pool is \between the oak tree and the palm trees.
Practice What You've Learned
Part 1
Directions:
Click on all the words that make up the compound preposition in each
sentence.

Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 3:

Preposition versus Adverb

Some words can be used as either prepositions or adverbs. If the word has an object,
it is acting as a preposition. If it has no object, it is acting as an adverb.

Adverb: My school bus just went past.

Preposition: My brother just drove past us.
Hint:
Ask what after the word to see if it has an object.
Adverb: My school bus just went past. (Past what? Nothing = Adverb)
Preposition: My brother just drove past us. (Past what? Us = Preposition)

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
Decide whether the bold-faced word is a preposition or an adverb.
 Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 4:

Adjective Prepositional Phrases

Definition:

An adjective prepositional phrase describes a noun or pronoun. It answers the

questions which one, what kind, how much, or how many.
Adjective: The wind's sound made a whistling noise.
Prepositional Phrase: The sound \of the wind made a whistling noise.

On the other hand, adverb prepositional phrases modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.
They usually tell when, where, how, why, or to what extent (how many, how
much, how long, or how far), and under what condition.

Adjective prepositional phrases can also follow linking verbs; however, this is not
very common.

You seem \under the weather. (Under the weather describes you, not how you
seem.)

More than one adjective phrase can modify the same noun.

The sound \of the players \from the gym distracted us.
The sound \of the players
The sound \from the gym
 Practice What You've Learned
Directions:
Identify the adjective phrases by clicking the preposition and the object of the
preposition. Then click on the noun or pronoun the phrase modifies.

Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 5:

Adverb Prepositional Phrases

Definition:
 An adverb prepositional phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. It
usually tells when, where, how, why, or to what extent (how many, how
much, how long, or how far), and under what condition.
Modifying a verb:
We always go \to the beach \on the weekends. (Where and when we go.)

Modifying an adjective:

You look tired \from all the heat. (How tired?)

Michele is very good \at singing. (Under what condition is she good?)

Modifying an adverb:

I don't like getting up early \in the morning. (How early?)

Notice that adverbs don't tell why, but adverb phrases do. You generally can't
explain why with a single word.

More than one adverb phrase may modify the same verb.

\At the same time, the two opposing players crashed \into me.
crashed \at the same time
crashed \into me

Practice What You've Learned

Part 1
Directions:
Identify the adverb phrases by clicking the preposition and the object of the
preposition. Then click to identify the word the phrase modifies
Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 6:

Prepositional Phrases as Nouns

Once in a while, a prepositional phrase may act as a noun. This is fairly rare. A noun
prepositional phrase generally acts as the subject of a sentence or as a subject
complement.

In front of the class is a stressful place to be. (subject)

The most stressful place for me is in front of the class. (subject complement)

In these cases, there is usually a noun in front of the prepositional phrase that is
implied or understood, but not written.

(The spot) in front of the class is a stressful place to be.

The most stressful place for me is (the spot) in front of the class.

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
Click on all the words in the prepositional phrase acting as a noun.
4
Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 7:

Layered Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase may modify the object of another prepositional phrase.

The flowers \in the pot \on the windowsill \in the kitchen \of my grandmother's
house \in Maineare violets.

The flowers are in the pot.

The pot is on the windowsill.
The windowsill is in the kitchen.
The kitchen is of my grandmother's house.
The house is in Maine.

Doesn't this sound like a children's rhyme?

Hint:
Be careful not to use too many prepositional phrases at once because it can be
confusing. Two prepositional phrases at a time are usually enough unless you
are intentionally trying to layer lots of prepositional phrases.

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
 Click on each underlined prepositional phrase and then the word it modifies.

Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 8:

Adjective or Adverb Prepositional

Phrases
Adjective prepositional phrases follow the nouns they modify, unlike adjectives
which generally go immediately before the nouns they modify. Like adjectives, they
tell which one, what kind, how much, or how many.

The show \on television tonight is about snow leopards \in Asia.
On television tells us which show. In Asia tells us which leopards.

Adverb prepositional phrases that modify adjectives and adverbs must go after the
words they modify. Like intensifiers, they tell to what extent. They can also
tell why or in what way or in what circumstances.

I am hungry \because of this diet. (Because of this diet tells why I'm hungry.)
You can run pretty quickly \in those high heels. (In those high heels tells when you
run quickly.)

Adverb prepositional phrases that modify verbs can move about the sentence, just as
adverbs do. Like adverbs they can tell where, when, how, and to what extent. Since
they use more than one word, they can also tell why.

We will go snowboarding \in the winter. (In the winter tells when we will go
snowboarding.)
\In the winter, we will go snowboarding.
We will, \in the winter, go snowboarding.
Hint:
Sometimes a prepositional phrase could make sense either as an adjective
phrase modifying the noun before it or as an adverb phrase modifying the
verb. In this case, it is usually considered an adjective phrase.
The plant \in the window gets lots of sunlight. (Tells which plant.)
\In the window, the plant gets lots of sunlight. (Tells where the plant gets lots of
sunlight.)
The plant gets lots of sunlight \in the window. (Tells where the plant gets lots of
sunlight.)

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
Using the toolbar, mark the prepositional phrases in the following sentences
as adjective or adverb phrases. First click on the type of phrase in the toolbar,
then click on the preposition, and lastly the object of the preposition.
Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 9:

Placement Problems and Dangling

Prepositions
Misplaced Prepositional Phrases
 Putting the prepositional phrase in the wrong place can lead to some strange-
sounding sentences.

Tourists often wander along our beach \with cameras. (Do the beaches have
cameras?)
Tourists \with cameras often wander along our beach. (No, the tourists have
cameras.)

It is always best to put prepositional phrases with the words they modify unless you
are consciously moving an adverb phrase. Make sure you don't put a prepositional
phrase after a noun that it doesn't modify.

Dangling Prepositions

"Never end a sentence with a preposition!" We have almost all heard that rule, but it
is not as carved in stone as it sounds.

Sometimes a preposition at the end of the sentence is really a problem. Sometimes it

is not. If it is, there are several ways to fix it.

It is fine - just leave it (unless your English teacher has a big problem with
prepositions at end of sentences, in which case try completely rearranging the
sentence).

What are you looking at? - That really is okay.

At what are you looking? - Sounds awkward. No one speaks like that, not even
English teachers.

What are these cookies made of? - Okay. You could leave it like this.
What are the ingredients in these cookies? - Better

A teacher is a person most children look up to. - Okay. You could leave it like this.
A teacher is a person to whom most children look up. - A bit awkward. This might
impress your teacher, but people do not talk like this.
Most children look up to a teacher. - Completely rewritten.

It really is not a problem because it is an idiomatic (two-word) verb.

What time should I pick you up? - Okay because pick up is an idiomatic/two-word
verb.

Move the phrase.

 What time should we wake up at? - Nope
At what time should we wake up? - Much better

Rearrange the prepositional phrase.

Colored pencils are my favorite tools to draw with. - Not terrible

Colored pencils are my favorite tools with which to draw. - Preferable

Just leave it off. Sometimes people add unnecessary prepositions to the end
of a sentence.

Where is your hometown at? - You don't need at.

Where is your hometown? - Much better.

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
Highlight the misplaced phrase.

Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 10:

Troublesome Prepositions
Some prepositions commonly cause trouble for writers.
Beside / Besides
Beside means next to or at the side of.
The book is on the table beside my chair.
Besides means in addition to.
No one besides the teachers is allowed in the teachers' lounge.
Between / Among
Between is used with two things.
I sit between Annie and Mark.
Among is used with a group of three or more.
I sit among my friends.
Have / Of
Because the verb have is often contracted with a helping verb
like could or should resulting in could'veor should've, students often think
the contractions mean could of or should of.
You should have brought it since you could have.
Angry with / Angry at
You are angry with a person.
I am angry with my little brother for breaking my television.
You get angry at an object.
I was angry at my locker when I couldn't get it open.
Different from / Different than
Always use different from.
My answer was different from the answer on the key.
Never use different than.
My answer was different than the answer on the key.
 Practice What You've Learned
Directions:
Choose the best word to correctly complete each sentence.

Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 11:

Commas with Prepositional Phrases

Restrictive or Essential Adjective Phrases

Definition:

A restrictive phrase, or essential phrase, is one that is necessary to the

sentence. It limits or restricts the word it is modifying so that the reader
knows which noun is being referred to. Restrictive phrases do not have
commas around them.
The newspapers \in the attic are garbage. The newspapers \in the den are
not garbage.
Without the phrase, I might throw out the wrong newspapers.
Definition:
 A nonrestrictive, or nonessential, phrase is one that is not necessary to the
sentence. It adds information that is not needed. Nonrestrictive phrases
need commas around them.
My father, \with his fear of crowds, did not come with us to the state fair.
I don't need to know about his fear of crowds to know which father I am
talking about.

Commas with Adverb Phrases

Adverb phrases at the beginning of the sentence, now introductory prepositional

phrases, are usually separated from the sentence by a comma unless they are very
short (three words or fewer) and it is easy to tell where the phrase ends.

In the morning we got up and got ready for work.

In the morning, we got up and got ready for work.
(Short phrase okay with or without a comma.)

This is one of the few places where how a sentence sounds determines the
punctuation.

Without my work, I was tempted to skip class.

(Short, but pauses. It is obvious that work does not describe I.)

Prepositional phrases layered together usually have a comma.

On the morning before my birthday, my parents surprised me with a trip to Hawaii.

Commas are especially important if the object of the preposition is a verb acting like
a noun. Otherwise, the results can be funny.

After vacuuming my brother collapsed on the couch. (Was someone vacuuming

your brother?)
After vacuuming, my brother collapsed on the couch. (Comma is necessary)

Sometimes for effect, writers turn the whole sentence around, using the
prepositional phrase first, then the verb, and finally the subject.

Down the stream paddled the kayakers.

This is not an example of an introductory phrase and does not need a comma.
Practice What You've Learned
Part 1
Directions:
Decide whether the bold-faced adjective prepositional phrases are restrictive
(no commas necessary), or nonrestrictive (commas needed). Commas have
been intentionally left out.
 Module 6, Prepositions, Lesson 12:

Idiomatic Verbs
You learned about idiomatic verbs in Verbs Module Lesson 9.

Definition:

Idiomatic verbs, also called phrasal verbs or two-word verbs, are made up of
a verb and one or more prepositions. The preposition in an idiomatic verb is
called a particle. This is because the preposition is not being used to show a
relationship such as time, place, or direction; it is just there because that is the
way we speak.

If you wake up in the morning, is there anything up about how you wake? If you tell
someone to shut up (which we know is rude), what up are they supposed to shut?

Examples:

Please fill out these forms so I can find out more about you.
If you fall behind in your homework, your parents will hear from your teacher.
If you blow up at your friends, it makes it harder to get along with them.

It is important to be able to tell the difference in the ways prepositions are used.

Verb with an adverb:

 We looked up at the sky to see the meteor shower.
As we were racing, James fell behind.

Verb with a prepositional phrase:

We looked up the road to see if the car was coming.

James fell behind the couch.

Idiomatic verb:

We looked up the definition of that word in the dictionary.

James fell behind in his schoolwork.

Hint:
If you ask what after the word and get an answer, it's a preposition.

Practice What You've Learned

Directions:
Identify each set of bold-faced words as either an idiomatic verb or a verb
with a prepositional phrase following it.
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