1. How prepositions function in sentences

2. Prepositions
A preposition is a word that relates its object to some other word in the sentence. The noun or pronoun following the preposition is called the object of the preposition.
The word preposition has two parts: pre, meaning “before,” and position. A preposition is a word that is positioned before its object and shows the relationship between that object and another word in the sentence.
Example: Firefighters scrambled up the ladder. (up is the preposition; ladder is its object)

3. Words Often Used as Prepositions
about
below
from
past
above
beneath in
through
across
beside
inside to
after
between
into
toward
against
beyond
near
under
along
but (except) of
underneath
among by
off
until
around
down on up as
during
out
with
before
except
outside
within
behind
for
over
without

4. Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with its object. Prepositional phrases can add precision, clarity, and details to an idea.
Example: Julia is typing her report on her computer.
Example: She also creates artwork with a graphics program.
IT IS NOT A PREPOSITION IF THERE IS NO OBJECT!

5. Modifiers - Adjectives
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.
rocket ship
leading scientist
Toni’s experiment
sealed package
one satellite
that astronaut
beautiful planet
black hole

6. Modifiers - Adverbs
An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Adverbs Modify Verbs
The graduates waited.
How?
The graduates waited anxiously.
Where?
The graduates waited inside.
When?
The graduates waited today.
Adverbs Modify Adjectives
One speech was long.
To what extent?
One speech was extremely long.
Adverbs Modify Other Adverbs
The audience cheered loudly.
The audience cheered quite loudly.

7. Function of Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb.
As an ADJECTIVE, the prepositional phrase will answer the question Which one?
The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from shower steam.
Which book? The one on the bathroom floor!
The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold.
Which sweet potatoes? The ones forgotten in the vegetable bin!
The note from Beverly confessed that she had eaten the leftover pizza.
Which note? The one from Beverly!

8. Function of Prepositional Phrases
As an ADVERB, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such as How? When? or Where?
Freddy is stiff from yesterday's long football practice.
How did Freddy get stiff? From yesterday's long football practice!
Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil.
When did Josh do his begging? Before class!
Feeling brave, we tried the Dragon Breath Burritos at Tito's Taco Palace.
Where did we eat the spicy food? At Tito's Taco Palace!

9. Try This
Instructions: Pick out the prepositional phrases in these sentences, what they modify, and if they function as adjectives or adverbs.
1. The librarian took from her desk a new edition of one of the classics.
2. It was placed in the display case in the corner of the library.
3. Many books of mystery are found in the library.
4. One story about magic appears in our literature book.
5. This story contains clues to the solution of the mystery.
6. I have read many stories by Arthur Conan Doyle about Sherlock Holmes.
7. A wall of ancient Pompeii was discovered accidentally by an ordinary peasant.