Prepositions

Definition: A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a word in the sentence and the word that is the object of the preposition.

Sometimes the answer to those questions take more than one word. Often those phrases are prepositional phrases.

Which one: The flower in the vase is a peony.
What kind: The umbrella with the polka-dots is Mary Anne's.
Where: We will be going to the movies.
When: My lunch period is after science.
How: You are walking on your tiptoes.

Definition: A phrase is a group of words working together that does not have both a subject and a verb. Phrases usually act as a single part of speech.

Prepositions can never be alone, so it makes sense to learn about prepositions in their phrases. Any lone preposition is actually an adverb.
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a word in the sentence and the word that is the object of the preposition.

In the previous examples:

In shows the relationship between the flower and the vase.
With shows the relationship between the umbrella and the polka-dots.
To shows the relationship between where we are going and the movies
After shows the relationship between our lunch and science class.
On shows the relationship between how we are walking and our tiptoes.

Definition: A prepositional phrase is the preposition, the object of the preposition, and all the modifiers between the two.

in (preposition) the vase (object)
with (preposition) the polka-dots (object)
to (preposition) the movies (object)
after (preposition) science class (object)
on (preposition) your tiptoes (object)

Some teachers have their students memorize a list of common prepositions. That can be confusing because sometimes those same words act as adverbs. It is better to understand show a relationship.

Some Common Prepositions
Prepositions of time: after, around, at, before, between, during, form, on
Prepositions of place: above, across, against, along, among, around, at, behind
Preposition of direction/movement: at, for, on, to, into, onto, between
Preposition of manner: by, on, in, like, with
Other types of prepositions: by, with, of, for, by, like, as

Do you need to know what categories they fit into? Not really. It`s just a way to sort them. Remembering time, place, direction,, and manner might help you remember what prepositions do.

Hint: Think of prepositions as arrows.

to, at, for…
from, next to…
with, between…
above, on…
in, inside, under…

Hint: The word to is often a preposition, but it is just as often part of an infinitive verb. If the word after to is a verb, to is not a preposition.
Preposition: I want to go to Florida for vacation.
Infinitive Verb: I want to go to Florida for vacation.

Hint: One of the best ways to understand prepositional phrases is to learn how to diagram sentences.

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