Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases. Common Prepositions

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1 Prepositions are words that convey relationships, often space and time, between the noun or pronoun, following it and other words in the sentence. Prepositions are able to function in any part of the sentence; the beginning, end, or middle. Prepositions are positional words. Many of them will work in the following phrase: The plane flew under the cloud. The plane flew through the cloud. The plane flew inside the cloud. The plane flew around the cloud. The plane flew near the cloud. Refer to the table below for commonly used prepositions. Common Prepositions about before except for near through above behind Excepting next throughout according to below for of till across beneath From off to after beside In on toward against between in addition to onto under along beyond in back of on top of underneath along with but in case of out unlike among by in front of out of unlike apart from by means of in place of outside up around concerning Inside over upon as despite in spite of past up to as for down instead of regarding with at during Into round within because of except Like since without Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 1

2 A prepositional phrase is a group of words, not containing a subject or a predicate, beginning with a preposition. It is a preposition with its subject and modifier included. Below are examples of prepositional phrases: Because of the weather Instead of the chair In addition to some paper Inside the house Notice that a prepositional phrase cannot stand alone as a sentence; therefore, it is a sentence fragment! The following examples can be used in the following context to make it a complete sentence. Because of the weather, the football game was cancelled. I will sit on the floor instead of the chair. I need to get some pencils in addition to the paper. Inside the house is an old antique dining room table. Time and Place: Common prepositions used to describe time and place are: in, on, and at. Examples of this are: In 1995 In 1995, I graduated high school. Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 2

3 In a few months I will be turning thirty in a few months. On Friday On Friday, there will be an exam in English class. On my birthday I got a teddy bear on my birthday. At night fall There will be fireworks at night fall. At your house I will meet you at your house. If you have not noticed by now, prepositional phrases can be used in any part of the sentence. ***It is important to know that the subject of a sentence may never be found in a prepositional phrase! After going to class, I had to head to work. (Beginning) I like to eat vegetables except for lettuce. (End) The class, along with Jim, went to visit the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. (Middle) *If the prepositional phrase is used in the beginning of the sentence, you should set it off by a comma. If the prepositional phrase is a non-restrictive appositive, it also has to be set off by a comma. If you are not familiar with comma rules, see a tutor or refer to the comma handout. Example: Before running to the store, I had to walk the dog. I, before running to the store, had to walk the dog. (non-restrictive appositive) I went into the basement to get some wine. Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 3

4 YOUR TURN TO PRACTICE! In the following sentences, underline the subject once and the verb twice. Circle the prepositional phrase. 1. The boys ran up the stairs. 2. They looked out the window. 3. They saw a lot of people. 4. The people were marching down the street. 5. The street was covered with paper. 6. The paper had been shredded by a machine. 7. The machine was leaning against the wall of the school. 8. That school had been founded by Thomas Jefferson. 9. Thomas Jefferson was from Virginia. 10. Virginia is located between Maryland and North Carolina. (NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS AT THE BACK OF THE PACKET) ANOTHER CHECK: Circle the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. 1. It s time for us to go for a long walk. 2. Of the two books, I preferred this one. Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 4

5 3. I shall look forward to seeing you in class. 4. The dean received a letter from my brother. 5. The first game of the season will begin in five minutes. 6. We climbed to the top of the hill. 7. Around the room flew the frightened bird. 8. Jean looked inside the newspaper for the article. 9. Between terms, I flew to New York. 10. I stood beside the Empire State Building. TEST WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES! Underline each prepositional phrase in the following sentences. 1. The first census of our country was taken in Tons of violets are made into perfume each year. 3. One of the secrets of success is the wise use of leisure time. 4. FSCJ held its teaching conference at the Omni hotel. 5. The bridge across this river was painted by his employees. 6. The huddle in football was first used by a team in In what city was the first skyscraper built? 8. The quiet afternoon was broken by the rumbling of thunder. 9. In 1903, the Wright brothers made history on a sand dune in North Carolina. 10. Standing near the edge of the cliff is scary. 11. The ground was covered by deep snow. Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 5

6 12. We saw the top of the snow-capped mountain in the distance. 13. The fans cheered when the football sailed between the goal posts. 14. The secretary of the club read the minutes from the last meeting. 15. Sir Humphrey Davy invented the safety lamp for miners in Would you like to live in a house built on stilts? 17. My children were delighted by the tricks of the magician. 18. Self-government in America began in Jamestown in Did you know that the inventor of the telephone was born in Scotland? 20. Before us in the parade came the cage of tigers. (The answers to this test are located at the back of the packet.) If you score above an 80%, you should give yourself a pat on the back because you have mastered prepositional phrases; however, if you scored below 80%, you should ask a TUTOR in the Writing Lab to give you more practice. ANSWERS FOR PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES PRACTICES/TESTS YOUR TURN 1. boys ran up the stairs 2. they looked out the window 3. they saw of people 4. people were marching down the street Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 6

7 5. street was covered with paper 6. paper had been shredded by a machine 7. machine was leaning against the wall of the school 8. school had been founded by Thomas Jefferson 9. Thomas Jefferson was from Virginia 10. Virginia is located between Maryland and North Carolina ANOTHER CHECK 1. for us for a long walk 2. of the two books 3. in class 4. from my brother 5. of the season in five minutes 6. to the top of the hill 7. around the room 8. inside the newspaper for the article 9. between terms to New York 10. beside the Empire State Building TEST Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 7

8 1. of our country in of violets into perfume 3. of the secrets of success of leisure time 4. at the Omni hotel 5. across this river by his employees 6. in football by a team in in what city 8. by the rumbling of thunder 9. in 1903 on a sand dune in North Carolina 10. near the edge of the cliff 11. by deep snow 12. of the snow-capped mountain in the distance 13. between the goal posts 14. of the club from the last meeting 15. for miners in in a house on stilts 17. by the tricks of the magician 18. in America in Jamestown in of the telephone in Scotland 20. before us in the parade of tigers Copyright Florida State College at Jacksonville. All Rights Reserved. 8