2. Prepositions - Definition
“ Preposition is a word used before Noun or Pronoun to show its relation with
other Noun or pronoun of the sentence.”
For example
The Bird is on the tree.
In this sentence we have two nouns –
‘Bird’ and ‘Tree’
The relation of bird with tree is shown by preposition ‘On’. It means that Bird is sitting on Tree
Now you find the relation between the nouns of the given
sentences: -
1. Sherlock lives at 221B Baker street .
2. He was sitting in the room.
3. The dog ran on the road.
3. Prepositions – The Most Common Relations
Preposition
Movement Position Time
4. Prepositions – Movement
Up Down Over
I walked up the stairs. I walked down the stairs. Cat jumped over the box.
5. Prepositions - Movement
Away Toward Past
The bus moved away
from the bus station.
I moved towards the
house.
The express train moved
past the station.
6. Prepositions - Movement
Into Out of Around
Students moved into
the class Room
After the class the
teacher came out of class.
Earth is moving around
the sun.
7. Prepositions - Movement
Onto Off Across
I put the books onto
the table.
The film Hero jumped
off the tall building.
I ran my car across the
bridge.
8. Prepositions - Movement
Through Under
On the way to Shimla the
train passed through many
long tunnels.
The river flows under the
bridge.
9. Prepositions - Position
Behind In Front of In
Rabbit is hiding
behind the box.
Rabbit is sitting in front
of box.
The Rabbit is in the box.
10. Prepositions - Position
By Between Over
Rabbit is sitting by
the side of box.
Rabbit is sitting between
the blue and red boxes.
The Rabbit is above the
box.
12. Prepositions – Time Across the Day
In
At
I take lunch in
Afternoon.
I get up in the
Morning.
I go home in the
Evening.
I go to bed at Night.
13. Prepositions – Time
Across the Year
In
In
On
On
In August we are
going to Delhi.
On Sunday we
take rest.
On 15th August we
celebrate
Independence day.
In the year 2009
we saw the solar
eclipse.
14. Prepositions – Time Around the Clock
At
In
In our school morning
assembly starts at 7:00
O’clock in the morning.
I will reach to my school
in 1 hour.
15. ALL ABOUT PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions are used to explain more
details about parts of a sentence.
They are used in phrases that relate the
position of one word to some other word in
the sentence.
For example: What words could fit in the
blank to relate the table to the placement of
the box?
Lee placed the box the table.
16. ALL ABOUT PREPOSITIONS
Lee placed the box the table.
All the words that fit the blank are
examples of prepositions.
Notice that prepositions are always
used in phrases: on the table, beside
my entire family, below them.
17. ALL ABOUT PREPOSITIONS
Lee placed the box the table.
All the words that fit the blank are
examples of prepositions.
Notice that prepositions are always
used in phrases: on the table, beside
my entire family, below them.
The noun or pronoun at the end of the
phrase is called the object of the
preposition.
18. A LIST OF
COMMON PREPOSITIONS
Here are some of the most common prepo-
sitions. Learn to recognize these and use
them in your writing. Can you think of some
phrases that use these prepositions?
about across after around at
before behind below down during
for from in inside into
near of off on outside over
past since through to under
until up upon with within
19. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
Here are some hints about prepositions.
1. Prepositions and prepositional phrases never
include verbs.
For example: Do these sentences use “to” as
a preposition?
Shari left the house and walked to the store.
Find the boys, give this letter to them, and return.
Check out my report to learn about giraffes.
The first two sentences use “to” as a
preposition. The third does not. “To learn” is a
phrase that ends with a verb, so it cannot be a
prepositional phrase.
20. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
2. Prepositions only occur in phrases.
If a word looks like a preposition but is used
without a phrase, it’s probably something else
(like an adverb, perhaps).
For example: Do these sentences use “down”
as a preposition?
It’s easy to fall down if you aren’t used to skating.
Tony ran down the stairs to greet his Uncle Frank.
Only the second sentence uses “down” as a
preposition; it has a phrase that ends with a
noun. The first “down” is an adverb.
21. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
3. If two words right next to each other seem to
be prepositions, one of them is an
__________________.
For example: What are the prepositional
phrases in these sentences?
My mother said I should never go down by the bay.
“Stay outside near the trees,” the captain said.
Could you hike up with me later?
22. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
3. You will never find two prepositions right next
to each other.
If two words right next to each other seem to
be prepositions, only one of them really is.
For example: What are the prepositional
phrases in these sentences?
My mother said I should never go down by the bay.
“Stay outside near the trees,” the captain said.
Could you hike up with me later?
Only the highlighted words are the
prepositional phrases.
23. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a noun
or a pronoun.
When you reach the noun or pronoun that’s
being connected to the rest of the sentence, you
have reached the end of that phrase. Sometimes
two phrases are next to each other.
For example: What are the phrases below?
You are among friends in this city, so rest well.
Maude greeted Sami and talked with her at the door.
Maryanne walked with her aunt for half an hour.
24. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a noun
or a pronoun.
When you reach the noun or pronoun that’s
being connected to the rest of the sentence, you
have reached the end of that phrase. Sometimes
two phrases are next to each other.
For example: What are the phrases below?
You are among friends in this city, so rest well.
Maude greeted Sami and talked with her at the door.
Maryanne walked with her aunt for half an hour.
25. FOUR HINTS ABOUT
PREPOSITIONS
4. A prepositional phrase always ends with a
noun or a pronoun.
A side note: There are some exceptions. It used to be
said that a sentence or phrase should never end with a
preposition. This rule has changed over time, and now it
is sometimes acceptable. However, make sure it’s really
the best option for that sentence.
For example:
Everyone left early, so Sue had no one to walk with.
If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.
(This works, but a better sentence might be…)
If you need to talk to someone, I’m here for you.
26. USE THESE WORDS IN
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Using what you have learned so far, write
sentences that use these words in prepositional
phrases.
in
of
to
outside
after
with
over
27. USE THESE WORDS IN
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Now check the answers...
Miranda walked in the door and dropped her keys on
the table.
The story of the kings kept Joey’s interest for hours.
I would like to watch the game with them. (NO)
Antonio finished his work and went outside. (NO)
After solving the crime, Watson sipped his tea
contentedly. (NO)
Tara went with her family to Great Adventure.
If you aren’t careful on the steps, you’ll fall over. (NO)
28. DIFFERENT JOBS FOR
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Good work with prepositional phrases
so far!
The next part of this presentation will explain
how prepositional phrases have different
jobs. These jobs depend on what the
phrases are talking about in different
sentences.
29. ADJECTIVE PHRASES
When a prepositional phrase describes a
noun, it is called an adjective phrase.
To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you
must look back or ahead to see what the
phrase modifies. What phrases do you see
below?
The cake in the oven will be finished
after an hour.
30. ADJECTIVE PHRASES
When a prepositional phrase describes a
noun, it is called an adjective phrase.
To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you
must look back or ahead to see what the
phrase is related to. What phrases do you
see below?
The cake in the oven will be finished
after an hour.
This phrase is related to cake, which is a
noun. That’s how we know it’s an
adjective phrase.
31. ADJECTIVE PHRASES
When a prepositional phrase describes a
noun, it is called an adjective phrase.
To decide if it is an adjective phrase, you
must look back or ahead to see what the
phrase is related to. What phrases do you
see below?
The cake in the oven will be finished
after an hour.
This phrase is related to finished, which
is a verb; so this is not an adjective
phrase.
32. PRACTICE
ADJECTIVE PHRASES
Practice writing sentences with adjective
phrases. Use these phrases to describe
nouns in your sentences.
in a lake
on the ground
from his mother
across the path
33. ADVERB PHRASES
Prepositional phrases can also act like
adverbs. These are called adverb phrases.
Adverb phrases explain when, where, or how
something happened or will happen.
As with adjective phrases, you must look back
or ahead to see what the phrase is related to.
What phrases do you see below?
After school, the three friends walked past
the bakery.
34. ADVERB PHRASES
Prepositional phrases can also act like
adverbs. These are called adverb phrases.
Adverb phrases explain when, where, or how
something happened or will happen.
As with adjective phrases, you must look back
or ahead to see what the phrase is related to.
What phrases do you see below?
After school, the three friends walked past
the bakery.
“After school” is an adverb phrase that
explains when “walked” took place.
35. ADVERB PHRASES
Prepositional phrases can also act like
adverbs. These are called adverb phrases.
Adverb phrases explain when, where, or how
something happened or will happen.
As with adjective phrases, you must look back
or ahead to see what the phrase is related to.
What phrases do you see below?
After school, the three friends walked past
the bakery.
“Past the bakery” is also an adverb phrase that
explains where “walked” took place.
36. PRACTICE
ADVERB PHRASES
Now practice writing sentences with adverb
phrases. Include prepositional phrases that
describe these verbs.
threw
searched
gathered
was thinking
37. KEEP USING
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Prepositional phrases can make your
sentences stronger by giving specific
details.
They can also help vary your sentence
structure, because prepositional phrases
can often be used in different parts of
sentences. Try using them in the
beginning, middle, or end of a sentence to
see what works. Keep writing!
38. POP (OPEN NOTE) QUIZ
If the word is not used as a preposition, explain
why. If it is used as a preposition, write down the
entire phrase.
1. Miranda walked in the door and dropped her keys on the
table.
2. The story of the kings kept Joey’s interest for hours.
3. I would like to watch the game with them.
4. Antonio finished his work and went outside.
5. After solving the crime, Watson sipped his tea
contentedly.
6. Tara went with her family to Great Adventure.
7. If you aren’t careful on the steps, you’ll fall over.
39. WRITING PROMPT
If you could change one thing
about your life right now, what
would you change and why?
