1. Prepositions Benjamin Smith, Geoffrey Chan, Yuqi Bai, Jiyun Goth

2. What is it? Definition of a preposition Definition of a preposition any member of a class of words found in many languages that are used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as in, on, by, to, since. any member of a class of words found in many languages that are used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as in, on, by, to, since.

3. What they tell us Prepositions often convey spatial relationships telling us where x is in relation to y Prepositions often convey spatial relationships telling us where x is in relation to y

4. Examples Prepositions generally introduce prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases look like this: Prepositions generally introduce prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases look like this: preposition + optional modifiers + noun, pronoun, or gerund preposition + optional modifiers + noun, pronoun, or gerund Here are some examples: Here are some examples: At school At school At = preposition; school = noun. At = preposition; school = noun.

5. List of common prepositions about above across after against along among around at before behind below beneath beside between beyond but by despite down during except for from in inside into like near of off on onto out outside over past since through throughout till to toward under underneath until up upon with within without.

6. Tips and Tricks To test whether a word is a prepositions, try putting it in front of the noun To test whether a word is a prepositions, try putting it in front of the noun under + the bed ( Correct ) under + the bed ( Correct ) Never + the bed ( incorrect ) Never + the bed ( incorrect )

7. examples The hat is on the cat. Take the hat off the cat. The cat is wearing a hat. Where is the cat in the hat? In the sentences on the left, a particular assertion is being explicitly stated. In the sentences on the right, the same relationship between the cat and the hat is being hidden within other forms of sentence. But in all cases, the underlying sense or meaning of the relationship between the cat and the hat is the same. Each of these statements asserts or assumes that there is some thing denoted by the collection-concept “cat”, some thing denoted by a collection-concept “hat”

9. Improper usage Prepositional stranding, or using a preposition without an object, is generally considered improper use in English. Examples: Jim walked to fast.

10. What’s missing? A word that looks like a preposition but is actually part of a verb is called a particle. A word that looks like a preposition but is actually part of a verb is called a particle. Held up is a verb meaning “to rob.” Therefore, up is not a preposition, and bank is not the object of a preposition. Instead, bank is the direct object of the verb held up.

11. Flesh/Purpose Without prepositions, you wouldn’t understand basic sentences. Without prepositions, you wouldn’t understand basic sentences. Ex: The dog fell out of the truck and ran to its master. Ex: The dog fell out of the truck and ran to its master. The dog fell the truck and ran its master. The dog fell the truck and ran its master.  Prepositions are incredibly important!

12. Prepositional Phrases By using parallelism with prepositional phrases, you can make ideas clearer. By using parallelism with prepositional phrases, you can make ideas clearer. –Parallelism: similar structure in a pair (or more) of words Examples: Examples: –Joseph went to work, the city, and a restaurant. (incorrect) –Joseph went to work, to the city, and to the restaurant. (correct) By replacing the words with to the + noun, it makes everything sound smooth and even. By replacing the words with to the + noun, it makes everything sound smooth and even.

13. Prepositional Parallelism  President John F. Kennedy’s speeches –The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage. Each phrase begins with an adjective and then a preposition. Each phrase begins with an adjective and then a preposition. This use of parallelism and even rhythm makes the sentence sound eloquent. This use of parallelism and even rhythm makes the sentence sound eloquent.

14. Cardinal Sins

15. The most frequent prepositional sin is to replace one good, terse word with a stack of prepositional phrase. The most frequent prepositional sin is to replace one good, terse word with a stack of prepositional phrase. Many prepositional phrases could be expressed more clearly through nouns and verbs. Many prepositional phrases could be expressed more clearly through nouns and verbs.

16. Examples: Examples: in order to  to in order to  to in answer to  answer in answer to  answer on the understanding that  understand on the understanding that  understand for the purpose of  for for the purpose of  for on the point of  about on the point of  about in the absence of  absent in the absence of  absent a great number of  many a great number of  many

17. : When the preposition is part of a prepositional phrase that could be replaced with a simple modifier When the preposition is part of a prepositional phrase that could be replaced with a simple modifier Example: Example: The researchers are of the opinion that this test produces biased results a great number of times owing to the fact that subjects exhibit a tendency to misinterpret the questions. The researchers are of the opinion that this test produces biased results a great number of times owing to the fact that subjects exhibit a tendency to misinterpret the questions. Better to say Better to say The researchers believe the test often produces biased results because subjects tend to misinterpret the questions. The researchers believe the test often produces biased results because subjects tend to misinterpret the questions.

18. The object of the preposition must be expressed in the objective case. The object of the preposition must be expressed in the objective case. Example: Example: He stands behind she.  He stands behind her. He stands behind she.  He stands behind her. I have some gifts to they.  I have some gifts to them. I have some gifts to they.  I have some gifts to them. just between you and I  just between you and me. just between you and I  just between you and me.

19. The most graceful sentence does not end with prepositions. The most graceful sentence does not end with prepositions. But prepositions and their objects should not be unnaturally forced together. But prepositions and their objects should not be unnaturally forced together. We don’t say "Up whose phone number are you looking?" We don’t say "Up whose phone number are you looking?" Examples Examples UNNATURAL: I don't know up with how much more I can put. UNNATURAL: I don't know up with how much more I can put. ACCEPTABLE: I don't know how much more I can put up with. ACCEPTABLE: I don't know how much more I can put up with. REPHRASED: I don't know how much more I can stand. REPHRASED: I don't know how much more I can stand.

20. CARNAL PLEASURES - PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE IT INTIALIZE THE PREPOSITIONAL PHARSE - EX. - OTOH: ON THE OTHER HAND - BTW: BY THE WAY - PEOPLE CHOSE TO DROP PREPOSITIONS - EX. ALL THEM PLENTY ( PLENTY OF THEM)

21. Phrasal Verbs Some verbs, called phrasal verbs EX. Henry made up with Gloria EX. Henry made off with Gloria EX. Henry made out with Gloria Remember, this is the prepositional phrase Phrasal verbs is verb plus a prepositional or adverb which create a meaning different from the original verb.

22. Compound prepositions Ex. IN BETWEEN, AND BECAUSE OF, IN FRONT OF, ON BEHALF OF Ex. IN BETWEEN, AND BECAUSE OF, IN FRONT OF, ON BEHALF OF EX. THE BOOK IS IN BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE AND THE LOAD OF THE RINGS EX. THE BOOK IS IN FRONT OF THE CLOCK

23. QUIZ 1. True or False? :Prepositions often convey relationships telling us where x is in relation to y. 2. Make the sentence sound better with prepositions: –Jesse went __ church, __ __ ballgame, and __ __ dance. 3.Will you please send her an email in regard to her insurance policy. 3.Will you please send her an email in regard to her insurance policy. A. for B. about C. in regard to D. as A. for B. about C. in regard to D. as The following sentences, are they prepositional phrase or phrasal verb? –4. I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. –5.She looked the phone number up.