One phrase can make a whole lot of difference Prepositions One phrase can make a whole lot of difference

Preposition A preposition relates the word with it (known as the object of the preposition) with another word in the sentence. For example: Students always hand their work into the tray. INTO is the preposition and it relates work to tray to let us know where the work goes.

Prepositional Phrases Prepositions always appear in phrases known as prepositional phrases. They are made of a preposition and a noun known as the object of the preposition. For example: Students always turn their work into the tray. Object of prep Prep

Compound Prepositions Some prepositions consist of more than one word. They are called compound prepositions. For example: I went ahead of Malcom. AHEAD OF is a compound preposition.

Try it out Identify the preposition and object of the preposition in the following three examples. My mother never eats after midnight. The cereal is above the refrigerator. Joey crawled under the fence.

Prepositions: Adverb or Adjective? Prepositions can be adverbs or adjectives. This means they help to add detail to writing and enhance basic sentences and words to provide a more clear and defined idea. Adjective prepositional phrases modify nouns. Adverb prepositional phrases modify verbs.

Important Note If the prepositional phrase is an adverb it can be moved around in the sentence, but adjective prepositional phrases cannot. I gave money to the man in the cab. (Adjective. I can’t move in the cab anywhere else without changing the sentence.) I eat cookies in bed. (Adverb. I can move in cookies around in the sentence) In bed, I eat cookies.

Try It Is the underlined prepositional phrase an adverb or adjective? I ran too long in the fog. I talked to the man in the trench coat. Around midnight, a friend from college called me.

Varied Sentences with Prepositions Since adverb prepositional phrases can be moved around, you can now start sentences with prepositional phrases. For example: Peter fell on a rock last night. Last night Peter fell on a rock. Last night on a rock, Peter fell. All three examples are fine sentences.

Apply It Use prepositional phrases to vary sentence beginnings Use prepositional phrases to add detail to bland and boring sentences Use prepositional phrases to show relationships between ideas in your sentences.