A preposition is a word that begins a prepositional phrase and shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. A prepositionmust always have an object. A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition, ends with an object, and may have modifiers between the preposition and object of the preposition.
Here is a list of common words that can be used as prepositions: about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but (when it means except), by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, outside, over, past, since, through, to, toward, under, until, up, upon, with, within, and without.
These words can be used as other parts of speech. What part of speech it is depends on how it is used in that sentence. Many of the common words used as prepositions can be used as adverbs. They are prepositions if they have an object to complete them. To decide which it is, say the prepositionfollowed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition.
Example: The boy stood up and ran down the street. Upwhat? There is no object; therefore up is not a preposition. Downwhat? Street answers the question; therefore, down is a preposition. Down the street is the prepositional phrase starting with the preposition down and ending with the object street with a modifier the in between.
A prepositional phrase may be used as an adjective telling which orwhat kind and modifying a noun or pronoun. An adjective prepositional phrase will come right after the noun or pronoun that it modifies. If there are two adjective prepositional phrases together, one will follow the other. Only adjective prepositional phrases modify the object of the preposition in another prepositional phrase.
Instructions: Pick out the adjective prepositional phrases in these sentences and tell what they modify.
1. Do you remember the title of the new book about morals?
2. Our work on the planning commission covers all kinds of ideas and concepts.
3. Those immense houses on the west side of town were built recently.
4. The man in the next room is the mayor.
5. Few of the citizens had ever seen that plan.
–For answers scroll down.
Answers:
1. of the new book modifies “title”/ about moralsmodifies “book”
2. on the planning commission modifies “work”/ of ideas and concepts modifies “kinds”
3. on the west side modifies “houses”/ of townmodifies “side”
4. in the next room modifies “man”
5. of the citizens modifies “few”
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James White 