Building Blocks:

Part 1
Prepositions &
Their Objects
over

to

on
at

above

up

down

between

out

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b u i l d i n g b l o c k s : pa r t 1

NOTES

Building Blocks, Part 1

Prepositions and their objects
One of the basic building
blocks of sentences in English
is the Prepositional Phrase.
In this section you will learn
what Prepositions are and
how to recognize them.
Basic definitions
Preposition a connecting word used to indicate relations or relationship of some kind. Prepositions describe a vast range of relationships:
type

example

relationships in space



relationships in time


to indicate cause or reason


to indicate means or manner



interpersonal relationships

under the table

on the table
off the table
around the table
after the movie
before the movie
during the movie
by chance
through sheer effort
of hunger
by rail
on the phone
in a whisper
with a pencil
with Julie
to Julie
between Julie and me

Common
Prepositions

object a word or phrase that, along with the Preposition, forms a Prepositional Phrase. The Object in a Prepositional Phrase is always either a Noun
or a Pronoun.

above
across
after
around
at
before
behind
below
beside
between
by
down
during
for

from
in
inside
into
of
off
on
out
over
through
to
under
up
with

n o u n a s o b j e c t p r o n o u n a s o b j e c t

with friends
for the family
by Dmitri
on the buildings
beside Alice

with me
for us
by him
on them
beside her

Copyright 2012 by SALIENT, INC. All rights reserved.

b u i l d i n g b l o c k s : Pa r t 1

P repositions & T heir O b j ects

NOTES

Exercise
Directions: Put parentheses ( ) around each Prepositional Phrase.
1. The cow jumped over the moon.
2. The dish ran away with the spoon.
3. Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard.
4. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
5. They take care of everything from soup to nuts.
6. Lets keep this between you and me.
7. Hank drank three pints of soda.
8. Bill filled three holes with sand.
9. Nancy fancied a piece of cake with chocolate icing.
10. She hung her coat in the closet.
11. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
12. A package came for Bill.
13. Time and tide wait for no man.
Directions: Put parentheses ( ) around each Prepositional Phrase; then
decide whether the Object is a Noun (N) or a Pronoun (P).
14. I sent it to Jerry, George, and Elaine.
15. I sent it to them.
16. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
17. The neighbors across the street often throw stones at us.
18. Stones were thrown by me and my brother.

Copyright 2012 by SALIENT, INC. All rights reserved.