Indentifying Prepositions

Prepositions

Prepositions are small words such as "with" and "into" that themselves are difficult to define in words. Suffice it to say that prepositions create a relationship between other words in a sentence by linking phrases to the rest of the sentence.

Prepositions can be found virtually anywhere in the sentence.

A list of common prepositions:

above
across
after*
against
among
around
at
before*
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
by
down
during
except
for
from
in
inside
into
like
near
of
off
on
out
outside
over
since
through
throughout
to
toward
under
until*
up
upon
with
without
according to
because of
by way of
in addition to
in front of
in place of
in regard to
in spite of
instead of
on account of
out of

* These prepositions can also acts as subordinating conjunctions

Prepositions are ALWAYS followed by a noun called objects of the prepostion.

[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 that 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 the difference between adverbs and prepositions, please turn the page.