Prepositions

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word that joins a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence and often shows time, place, direction, and manner. A prepositional phrase always begins with a preposition and ends with a noun. This noun is the object of the preposition.

Prepositions Introduce Prepositional Phrases:
     Ex: In the hot sun by the edge of the water a small turtle lies perfectly still.

Prepositions Function as Either Adverbs or Adjectives:
     Ex (prepositional adverb phrase): Margot and Marcy sailed down the river.
          down the river tells where they sailed.
     Ex (prepositional adjective phrase): Madeline prefers a blouse with some color.
          with some color describes the noun “blouse.”

Common Prepositions:
about	beyond	onto
above	by	outside
across	concerning	over
against	despite	regarding
along	down	since
alongside	during	through
amid	except	throughout
among	for	to
around	from	toward
at	in	under
before	inside	underneath
behind	into	until
below	like	up
beneath	near	upon
beside	of	with
between	off	within
but (meaning except)	on	without

 

Remember:
A preposition is a word that joins a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence and often shows time, place, direction, and manner.