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Building Blocks: Part 1

Prepositions & Their Objects

outbetween

down

to

at

on

above

over

up

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b u i l d i n g b l o c k s : pa r t 1 �

Copyright © 2012 by SALIENT, INC. All rights reserved.

Building Blocks, Part 1Prepositions and their objectsOne of the basic building blocks of sentences in English is the Prepositional Phrase. In this section you will learn what Prepositions are and how to recognize them.

Basic definitions

PrePositioN — a connecting word used to indicate relations or relation-ship of some kind. Prepositions describe a vast range of relationships:

t y P e e x a m P l e

relationships in space under the table on the table off the table around the table

relationships in time after the movie before the movie during the movie

to indicate cause or reason by chance through sheer effort of hunger

to indicate means or manner by rail on the phone in a whisper with a pencil

interpersonal relationships with Julie to Julie between Julie and me

objec t — a word or phrase that, along with the Preposition, forms a Preposi-tional Phrase. The Object in a Prepositional Phrase is always either a Noun or a Pronoun.

N o u N a s o b j e c t P r o N o u N a s o b j e c t

with friends with me for the family for us by Dmitri by him on the buildings on them beside Alice beside her

aboveacrossafteraroundatbeforebehindbelowbesidebetweenbydownduringfor

fromininsideintoofoffonoutoverthroughtounderupwith

co m m o N P r e P o s i t i o N s

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b u i l d i n g b l o c k s : pa r t 1

Copyright © 2012 by SALIENT, INC. All rights reserved.

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PREPOSITIONS & THEIR OBjECT S

ExerciseDirections: Put parentheses ( ) around each Prepositional Phrase.

1. The cow jumped over the moon.

2. The dish ran away with the spoon.

3. Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard.

4. I came to Casablanca for the waters.

5. They take care of everything from soup to nuts.

6. Let’s keep this between you and me.

7. Hank drank three pints of soda.

8. Bill filled three holes with sand.

9. Nancy fancied a piece of cake with chocolate icing.

10. She hung her coat in the closet.

11. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

12. A package came for Bill.

13. Time and tide wait for no man.

Directions: Put parentheses ( ) around each Prepositional Phrase; then decide whether the Object is a Noun (N) or a Pronoun (P).

14. I sent it to jerry, George, and Elaine.

15. I sent it to them.

16. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

17. The neighbors across the street often throw stones at us.

18. Stones were thrown by me and my brother.