1. Today’s Notes: Mar. 10, 2010 II. Prepositional Phrases A. A group of words that: 1. Begin with a preposition. 2. End with a noun or pronoun. B. Object of a preposition: The specific name for the noun or pronoun at the end of a prep. phrase

2. Prepositional Phrases Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections Unit 8 th Grade English

3. In this lesson… We are going to review what a preposition is. We are going to talk about prepositional phrases are, what the object of a preposition is, and why ending a sentence with a preposition may or may not be a good thing…depending on how old your English teacher is… (Gasp…)

4. Prepositions…a definition A preposition is a word that relates a noun or a pronoun to some other word in the sentence. Yeah, yeah…paid by the word… A preposition shows how one thing relates to something else.

5. Remember the Shark… I am swimming toward the shark’s tummy. (Oops!) I am swimming away from the shark’s tummy. (Hurry!) I am swimming inside the shark’s tummy. (Bummer!)

6. Knight Crazy! Notice how the kid’s situation changes with every sentence? That is because of the preposition. The pronoun I and the noun tummy have a different relationship each time, due to the POWERFUL PREPOSITION!

7. I love Mice! Anywhere a Mouse Can go…a Preposition you will know…

8. Exercise A: Find the Preposition! In Europe, Germany used to be two different nations. West and East Germany were neighbors to each other. Most Germans in Berlin celebrated becoming one nation again. Visitors will find remnants of the Berlin Wall.

9. Okay…Prepositions…I got it… Did I fail to mention that prepositions like to hang out with other words? When you have a preposition, you also have a prepositional phrase.

10. Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. The noun or pronoun at the end is the object of the preposition.

11. What does that mean? A phrase that begins with a preposition is called a prepositional phrase. The noun or pronoun at the end of the phrase is the object of the preposition. Example: I’m glad he wasn’t sitting beside me!

12. Prepositional Phrases Are actually pretty easy to find. You know that they will: Start with a preposition (Anywhere a mouse can go!) End with a noun or pronoun. Any extra words in between are part of the prepositional phrase!

13. Example Sloppy Sara sat across the table when we ate dinner. Across the table is the prepositional phrase. It starts with a preposition (Across) It ends with a noun (table) Table is the object of the preposition!

14. Exercise B: Identifying Prepositional phrases and OP. 6. Paris, the French capital, is in northern France. 7. Vineyards stretch across the French countryside. 8. Picturesque old churches are scattered about the landscape. 9. Many harbors lie along the Mediterranean coast. 10. The largest French port, Marseilles, is on the Mediterranean Sea. 11. Ferries travel across the English Channel. 12. Cars and trains can also use a tunnel under the Channel.

15. Something to be careful of… Have you ever heard the phrase “Too much of a good thing is a bad thing?” The same is true with prepositional phrases. Too many Prepositions can spoil your writing! Don’t believe me, check out the next sentence.

16. Can you say Awkward? I went to a store in a town in Ohio in the middle of a flood in June, which was during Ohio’s rainy season, and in a matter of minutes found myself knee-deep in water. SHEESH…How many prepositional phrases are in this sentence?

17. 10! I went to a store in a town in Ohio in the middle of a flood in June, which was during Ohio’s rainy season, and in a matter of minutes found myself knee- deep in water.

18. Try this instead… Last June I visited a small Ohio town during the rainy season. When I went into a flooded store, I quickly found myself knee-deep in water. Now you are down to three…much better!

19. One last thing… Back in the olden days of English, teachers taught you that it was NEVER, EVER okay to end a sentence with a preposition!

20. Nowadays… This rule has softened up. If you can change up your words so that the sentence doesn’t end up with a preposition, do it. If it sounds weird changing it, don’t do it. Example: Okay: A senator is someone most people look up to. Weird: A senator is someone to whom most people upwardly look. (How tall is he?) Much better: Most people look up to a senator.

21. What have we learned today? A preposition is a word that relates a noun or a pronoun to some other word in the sentence. A preposition can consist of more than one word. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. The noun or pronoun at the end is the object of the preposition. Too many Prepositions can spoil your writing! You CAN end a sentence with a preposition, if changing the sentence makes it sound weird.