Test Yourself

Prepositions

[Harbrace 1c(6) & 1d(3)] 

Review

See Introduction to Prepositions below 

Introduction

A preposition indicates a relationship between its object and other words in the same sentence. [Harbrace 1c(6)]

Here are examples of prepositions: 

about, beneath, onto
above, between, out
across, by, over
after, down, through
against, during, throughout
along, except, to
among, for, toward
around, from, under
as, in, up
at, into, upon 

Many prepositions consist of more than one word: 

ahead of, in front of
as well as, in place of
away from, in spite of
because of, on account of
by way of, outside of
in back of, up to 

The preposition plus its object and related modifiers form a prepositional phrase. 

See the following pattern: 

Preposition + object (noun or pronoun)
Preposition + modifier + object (noun or pronoun) 

Prepositional phrases function as adjectives or adverbs, modifying nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. [Harbrace 1d(3)] 

EXAMPLES:
Bob washed all of the cars in the parking lot.
(Of the cars modifies the pronoun all. All of what?)
(In the parking lot modifies the noun cars. Which cars?) 

Lucy was the one in the living room.
(In the living room modifies the pronoun one.) 

The dog slept under the table.
(Under the table modifies the verb slept. Slept where?) 

The football coach was pessimistic about next season.
(About next season modifies the adjective pessimistic. Pessimistic in what way?)