1. Prepositions
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship of a noun or a pronoun, called the object of the preposition, to another word.
Ex: The book is on the table.
On is the preposition and table is the object of the preposition.
A preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object form a prepositional phrase.
The prepositional phrase in the sentence above is on the table.

2. Prepositions A preposition is a part of speech that can describe:
Location (on, under, in)
Timing (before, after, during)
Direction (from, toward, to)
A preposition that consists of two or more words is called a compound preposition.
Some commonly used compound prepositions are:
about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but (when it means except), by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, outside, over, past, since, through, to, toward, under, until, up, upon, with, within, and without.

3. Adverb or Preposition
Many of the common words used as prepositions can be used as adverbs. Words are prepositions if they have an object to complete them. To decide which it is say the preposition followed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition.
Example: The boy stood up and ran down the street. Up what? There is no object; therefore up is not a preposition. Down what? Street answers the question; therefore, down is a preposition. Down the street is the prepositional phrase starting with the preposition down and ending with the object street with a modifier the in between.

4. Do Now: Prepositions
Write sentences using each of the following words as a preposition. Underline the prepositional phrase.
Below
Around
Outside
Under
Past
Inside By On
aboard Up

5. Exit Ticket: Prepositions
Instructions: Find the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Number your paper and write the phrases, circling the preposition in each phrase.
1. Jim painted a picture on the wall of the house.
2. I like to lie in the shade of the apricot tree and think of the jobs for the day.
3. The dog jumped over the mound behind the barn and ran into the street.
4. Come in and sit down with me.
5. He climbed up on the ladder and through the window.

6. Direct Objects
A direct object receives the action performed by the subject, i.e. the subject does the verb to the direct object.
The verb used with a direct object is always an action verb.
Example: The car hit the tree. To find the direct object, say the subject and verb followed by whom or what. The car hit whom or what? Tree answers the question so tree is the direct object.
If nothing answers the question whom or what, you know that there is no direct object. Example: The car sped past. The car sped whom or what? Nothing answers the question so the sentence has no direct object.

7. Direct Objects The direct object must be a noun or pronoun.
A direct object will never be in a prepositional phrase.
A direct object may be compound. Ex: The cat said “good morning” and “Cat free to good home.” [The parrot said what? “Good morning” and “Cat free to good home.”]
A D.O. may precede the subject and verb. Ex: What remarkable tricks the illusionist performed! [The illusionist performed what? Tricks.]

8. Practice: Direct Objects
Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, and direct objects in the following sentences.
1. Paul built a doll house for Hayley.
2. The club members held a party in the park.
3. The audience cheered their favorite actors during the play.
4. Tiny children prefer short stories.
5. Terri really dialed a wrong number last night.

9. Answers
Answers:
1. Paul = subject / built = verb / house = direct object
2. members = subject / held = verb / party = direct object
3. audience = subject / cheered = verb / actors = direct object
4. children = subject / prefer = verb / stories = direct object
5. Terri = subject / dialed = verb / number = direct object

10. Practice: Direct Objects
Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, and direct objects in these sentences.
1. The students of these lessons have studied subjects and verbs.
2. The hungry man ate cake, pie and rolls continually.
3. John wants a bicycle and a wagon for Christmas.
4. Everyone at the party enjoyed the hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and drinks.
5. Grandma left her umbrella and coat at our house.

11. Answers
Answers:
1. students = subject / have studied = verb / subjects, verbs = direct objects
2. man = subject / ate = verb / cake, pie, rolls = direct objects
3. John = subject / wants = verb / bicycle, wagon = direct objects
4. Everyone = subject / enjoyed = verb / hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, drinks = direct objects
5. Grandma = subject / left = verb / umbrella, coat = direct objects