Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions
These are those little words in English that connect ideas.
The word literally means "placed before" and prepositions are
placed before nouns. A preposition must be followed by a
noun, but the noun can have articles, adverbs and adjectives in
front of it. Altogether, this little group of words is
called a prepositional phrase.
In the morning, the men will come at
exactly 8 o'clock and put the papers on the big
desk for the President of the
United States, and after a big lunch,
they will take him to his quarters for a
nap. One of the men is a friend
of Count Dracula.
Now, don't be fooled by an infinitive. An
infinitive is to verb (to study, to think, to
sleep, etc.). It can be used as a noun or adjective in the
sentence but it's not a verb, and it's not a preposition--even
though it looks a bit like one.
I like to swim, but Sarah wants to play
golf.
An important thing to remember about prepositional phrases is
that the noun in a prepositional phrase (the object of the
preposition) cannot be a subject or a direct object of a
sentence. It can't do anything except be the object of the
preposition.
Common Prepositions
| about |
beside |
in place of |
over |
| above |
besides |
in regard to |
since |
| according to |
between |
inside |
through |
| across |
beyond |
in spite of |
throughout |
| after |
by |
instead of |
till |
| against |
by way of |
into |
to |
| around |
down |
like |
toward |
| as |
during |
near |
under |
| at |
except |
of |
until |
| because of |
for |
off |
up |
| before |
from |
on |
upon |
| behind |
in |
out |
with |
| below |
in addition to |
out of |
without |
| beneath |
in front of |
outside |
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Functions of Prepositional Phrases
Locate in Time:
Prepositional phrases often tell when something happens.
In the morning, I like to read the newspaper.
I went home around noon.
The girls went in the afternoon to see a
movie.
The work needs to be done after lunch but
before dinner.
Locate in Space:
Prepositional phrases often tell where something happens.
On the street corner, the woman stood
watching the cars.
I put the paper on the desk underneath
the book next to the lamp.
Other:
Prepositional phrases also show any number of connections
that aren't related to time or space. It's good to review
the list and become familiar with common prepositions.
There are a few that you should be especially aware of.
Of
This is always a preposition. It has no other job in
English.
One of the girls want to buy that book.
(Note "One" is the subject of this sentence, not "girls".)
I would like a piece of cake.
The reading of the will will take place at 6
PM.
Like
This preposition should not be used as a conjunction--"I
feel like I need a break"--followed by a subject and verb.
This is a common error. It should be, "I feel as though I need
a break."
Juanita want to marry a man like her father.
I feel like studying.
With/ Without
These are always prepositions
I went with my sister.
Without the wig, Captain Picard looks very
distinguished.
Quick Test for Prepositional Phrases
This is a quick test to determine if a word is a preposition.
Put the word in the blank, and if it makes sense, it's probably
a preposition. This, unfortunately, won't work with all of
the prepositions.
I ran _________________the bridge. (over, under, through,
etc.)
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