THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

Prepositions are small words that create a relationship between other words in a sentence by linking phrases to the rest of the sentence.

The nouns that follow them are objects of the preposition.

[In the following examples, the object of the preposition is bold and the preposition is underlined.]

• From the beginning of the storm, Dorothy was sure she would make it home.
  • BEGINNING is the object of the preposition FROM and STORM is the object of the preposition OF.
    
    
• For many in the class, math proved to be the most challenging subject.
  • You can find the object of the preposition by asking the question WHAT? about the preposition. e.g. For what? MANY. In what? CLASS.
    
    
• Until sunrise, the SWAT team will hide in the marsh.
  • The preposition UNTIL serves to connect its object (SUNRISE) with the main clause. The preposition IN connects its object MARSH to the verb, making the whole phrase part of the complete predicate.
    
    
• The fuzzy, red cat on the fence wanders among the houses.
  • FENCE acts as the object of the preposition ON. The whole phrase acts as part of the complete subject. HOUSES is the object of the preposition AMONG. The whole phrase acts as part of the complete predicate.
    
    

When a pronoun acts as an object of the preposition, it must take the objective case.

[In the following examples, the object of the preposition is bold and the preposition is underlined.]

• Bill was more than a little irritated when the water balloon fell on him.
  • HIM acts as the object of the preposition ON. It is incorrect to write fell on HE.
    
    
• Theo gave a dollar to Stephen and me to go to the store.
  • Both STEPHEN and ME act as the object of the preposition TO. It would be incorrect to write TO STEPHEN AND I.
    
    
• It seems like a waste of time for you and me to drive to Portland for the game.
  • Both YOU and ME act as the object of the preposition FOR.

To begin studying objects of the verbal, please go to the next page.