Basic Grammar : Basic Grammar Prepositional Phrases Basic Grammar Should Never Hurt!
Prepositions : Prepositions are words describing the location of nouns and pronouns in time and space.
Which word is the preposition in the sentence below?
The bees buzzed around the hive.
The word “around” is a preposition telling us where
the bees were located.
Common Prepositions : Common Prepositions aboard about above across after against
along among around as at before
behind below beneath beside between beyond
but by concerning despite down during
except for from in into like
near of off on onto out
outside over past per regarding since
through till to toward under until
up upon with within without Hint: You will be quizzed very soon! Concentrate on the list above and try to remember as many prepositions as possible.
Prepositional Phrases : Prepositional Phrases Are groups of words led by prepositions to indicate specific details of location, time, and space.
In the sentence below, what is the complete prepositional phrase?
The bees buzzed around the hive.
“Around the hive” is the complete prepositional phrase. This group of words, led by the preposition “around,” describes where the bees were located.
Quiz Time! : Quiz Time! Quickly write down as many prepositions as you can remember from the previous list.
By the way, you were warned that this moment would come!
Why Care? : Why Care? Prepositional phrases are often mistaken as
subjects of the sentence, which then leads to
subject-verb agreement (or SVA) errors.
Knowing how to identify prepositional phrases
helps prevent the SVA error, which is the most
common problem in English grammar.
Practice! : Practice! Try to choose the correct verb in the sentence
below:
The pack of wolves in the mountains (eat or eats) anything available.
Eats is the correct verb because the subject is only
one pack. Wolves and mountains are in prepositional
phrases, but their closeness to the verb can cloud the
issue and cause the SVA error.
A Little More Practice . . . : A Little More Practice . . . Correctly identify the prepositional phrases
in these sentences.
A. Symbols on the dollar bill have mysterious origins.
B. Bikers are rebels of the road.
C. Skunks sprayed their odors along Nola's fence.
D. Skulls in our backyard frightened us.
E. This side of the lake is dangerous.
Answers : Answers A. Symbols on the dollar bill have mysterious origins.
B. Bikers are rebels of the road.
C. Skunks sprayed their odors along Nola's fence.
D. Skulls in our backyard frightened us.
E. This side of the lake is dangerous.
Boardwalk Fun : Boardwalk Fun Can you find all of the prepositions in the lyrics of this song? (If words appear more than once, count them also!)
Oh when the sun beats down and melts the tar up on the roofAnd your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proofUnder the boardwalk down by the seaOn a blanket with my baby ... is where I'll be
From a park you hear the happy sounds from a carouselYou can almost taste the hotdogs and French fries they sellUnder the boardwalk down by the seaOn a blanket with my baby ... is where I'll be
Under the boardwalk out of the sunUnder the boardwalk we'll be having some funUnder the boardwalk people walking aboveUnder the boardwalk we'll be falling in loveUnder the boardwalk, boardwalk
Answer: 24 Prepositions : Answer: 24 Prepositions Oh when the sun beats down and melts the tar up on the roofAnd your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proofUnder the boardwalk down by the seaOn a blanket with my baby ... is where I'll be
From a park you hear the happy sounds from a carouselYou can almost taste the hotdogs and French fries they sellUnder the boardwalk down by the seaOn a blanket with my baby ... is where I'll be
Under the boardwalk out of the sunUnder the boardwalk we'll be having some funUnder the boardwalk people walking aboveUnder the boardwalk we'll be falling in loveUnder the boardwalk, boardwalk
Remember:Basic Grammar Should Never Hurt! : Remember:Basic Grammar Should Never Hurt!