Grammar Unit

1. Grammar Unit Prepositions

2. Let’s Review . . . The preposition is the sixth of the eight parts of speech. Just for the record, here are all eight: • Noun • Pronoun • Adjective • Verb • Adverb • Preposition • Conjunction • Interjection

3. First, let's start with a basic definition: Prepositions show relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.

4. Aboard About Above Across After Against Along Among Around At Before Behind Below Beneath Beside Between Beyond By Down During Except For From In Into Like Of Off On Over Past Since Through Throughout To Toward Under Underneath Until Up Upon With Within without Commonly used prepositions:

5. How’s your short term memory? Flip your notes over or cover them - test yourself. Write down as many prepositions as you can. How did you do? By what method might we more easily remember prepositions?

6. Prepositional Phrases: Prepositional phrases generally contain the preposition and an object of the preposition. Objects of the prepositionMUST be nouns. Here are some examples:

7. Identify the preposition, noun, article, and adjective in the following: • In bed (in, preposition and bed, noun) • To Texas (to, preposition and Texas, noun) The noun may have modifiers. In the big bed (in, preposition / the, article / big, adjective / bed, noun) • To the grocery store (to, preposition / the, article/ grocery, adjective / store, noun)

8. ***RULE*** Subjects and verbs can NEVER be found in prepositional phrases. It is a good habit to learn to spot prepositional phases. Use ((parentheses)) to mark them; That way when you are looking for the subject and verb of the sentence, it will narrow down the search.

9. Try this one. Copy the sentence and place the parentheses to identify the preposition(s) and/or prepositional phrases. The boy by the window on the other side of the room was looking over his shoulder at the pretty girl in the hall. The boy (by the window) (on the other side) (of the room) was looking (over his shoulder) (at the pretty girl) (in the hall.) Once the prepositional phrases are eliminated, "The boy was looking" is left.

10. "The boy was looking" When we studied adjectives, you learned that "the" is an article. The word "boy" is left. You have learned that "boy" is a noun. "Was looking" is the verb. Therefore, "boy" is the subject and "was looking" is the verb.

11. Lets pair up . . . Find a partner and copy three sentences from a book. Identify the preposition(s) in each sentence. Be prepared to share with the class!

12. A word about "to.” When "to" is used with a noun, it is a preposition; but when it is used with a verb, it is an infinitive. Be careful to recognize the difference. Examples: To bed to plus noun = preposition To sleep to plus verb = infinitive

13. In just a few minutes . . . You will have a preposition quiz. Please take this time to look over your notes.

15. Preposition Quiz List the prepositions in the following sentences. • He suggested they clean the statue by the art building for their service project. • The book on architectural design has been on the kitchen table since this morning. • Five dollars was required of each student who planned to go on the trip. • The teacher asked Tom to give an oral report about horses in the Appalachian Mountains. • Over the holidays, I visited the Thompson family for several days. • Do you have a special someone in your life? • She put all of her savings toward the down payment on a new house.

16. Preposition Homework In a newspaper or magazine, find an article that interests you and is more than 10 sentences in length. Tape the article to a clean sheet of paper. With a PURPLE pencil or pen, underline and number all the preposition in the article. On the paper, identify WHY it is a preposition. Due Tomorrow at the beginning of class.