Identify prepositions and their objects
Key Notes:
1. What is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in a sentence.
It tells us where, when, or how something is done.
2. Common Prepositions
Some common prepositions include:
- Time: at, on, in, during, before, after
- Place: above, below, under, over, between, beside, near, far
- Direction: to, from, toward, through, across
3. Object of the Preposition
- The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition in a sentence.
- It answers the question “whom” or “what” after the preposition.
- Example: In the sentence “The cat is under the table,” “under” is the preposition and “table” is its object.
4. Examples of Prepositions and Their Objects
“The book is on the table.”
- Preposition: on
- Object: table
“She walked through the park.”
- Preposition: through
- Object: park
“They will arrive in the morning.”
- Preposition: in
- Object: morning
5. Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object along with any modifiers of the object.
Example: “The dog ran across the street.”
- Prepositional Phrase: across the street
- Preposition: across
- Object: street
6. Identifying Prepositions and Their Objects
- Step 1: Look for a word that shows a relationship (usually a location, time, or direction).
- Step 2: Find the noun or pronoun that comes after the preposition.
- Step 3: Confirm the noun or pronoun answers the question of “whom” or “what” in relation to the preposition.
7. Practice Sentences
“The cat jumped over the fence.”
- Preposition: over
- Object: fence
“We sat next to the fire.”
- Preposition: next to
- Object: fire
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sometimes, words like to, for, and with are mistaken as part of the verb phrase. However, when they show a relationship, they function as prepositions.
Example: “He went to the store.”
- Preposition: to
- Object: store
Let’s practice!
