A preposition is a word that begins a prepositional phrase and shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. A preposition must 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 preposition followed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition. If there is no noun or pronoun to complete the phrase, the word is not a preposition.
Example: The boy stood up and ran down the street. Up what? There is no object; therefore up is not a preposition. Down what? 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 or what 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. Do you remember the title of the new book about morals?
- of the new book modifies title
- about morals modifies book
2. Our work on the planning commission covers all kinds of ideas and concepts.
- on the planning commission modifies work
- of ideas
and concepts modifies kinds
3. Those immense houses on the west side of town were built recently.
- on the west side modifies houses
- of town modifies side
4. The man in the next room is the mayor.
- in the next room modifies man
5. Few of the citizens had ever seen that plan.
- of the citizens modifies few
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