Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

What is a preposition? A connecting word like in, of, near, between or outside. It is always followed by a noun or pronoun that answers the question What? Or Whom? Richard is outstanding in basketball. (in what? Basketball) The judge ruled against him. (against whom? Him)

Common Prepositions I will provide you with a comprehensive list in class.

Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase may have more than two words in it. The noun following the preposition may have adjectives as modifiers. He could not compete in a fierce contact sport. (in what? Sport) Fierce and contact are adjectives that modify the noun sport.

Prepositional Phrases The preposition may be followed by two or more nouns that answer the question What? It is not a matter of Richard’s ability or desire. Ability and desire are both objects of the preposition.

How do I identify prepositions? The way a word is used in a sentence determines whether it is a preposition or another part of speech. Richard never thought of himself as handicapped before this incident. Richard never thought of himself as handicapped before. In the first sentence, before is a preposition (before what? Incident). In the second sentence, before is an adverb answering the question when? after thought.

Types of prepositions Place: above, by, near, beside, across Direction: up, off, beyond, to, toward Association: of, between, until, with, against Time: before, after, during In the game, Twister, you are above, below, across, under, or around someone. The cat is on the chair.