CHAPTER 7

Prepositions,
Conjunctions, and
Interjections

7.1 Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases 7.4 Telling Prepositions and Adverbs Apart
7.2 Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions 7.5 Conjunctions
7.3 PrepositionalPhrases as Adjectives and 7.6 Conjunctive Adverbs
Adverbs
7.7 Interjections

PRETEST Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Write each Prepositional Phrases. Underline the Preposition and circle the object of the Preposition. Then write
the word Prepositional Phrases modifies. Finally, write adjective or adverb to tell how the Prepositional Phrase
is used.
1. The flowers along the fence look very pretty. 7. Have you read any books by S. E. Hilton?
2. Just wait until tomorrow. 8. Mitzi began her homework late in the
afternoon.
3. Emilio left the house without his jacket.
9. Drive across the bridge and through the
4. Have you read this letter from your cousin?
town.
5. Are you busy for lunch?
10. Please put the clothes on your bureau into
6. During the last month, I have read ten the washing machine.
books.

PRETESTPronouns as Objects of Prepositions

Write the correct word or phrase from the choices in parentheses.
11. Mr. Borelli made these costumes for Kiki 16. Expect for Ms. Sandobal and (we, us),no
and (she, her). one seems.
12. Give your money for the theater tickets to 17. Cassy will sit between you and (I, me).
Mr. Corso or (they, them).
18. Across from (who, whom) am I speaking?
13. Please move your car around his van and
19. Michael Jordan walked onto the court in
(we, us).
front of charlotte and (they, them).
14. To (who, whom) am I speaking?
20. Above (he and she, him and her, he and
15. Without Mudiwa and (he, him) we don’t her, him and she) hung the family’s portrait.
have a full team.
PRETESTConjunctions
Write each conjunction. Then write compound subject, compound object, compound predicate, or compound
sentence to tell what parts the conjunction joins.
21. The chemist or the geologist knows the 26. In 1683 Anton van Leeuwenhoek first saw
answer. bacteria with a microscope, and in 1864
louis Pasteur killed bacteria in milk.
22. My friend has a pager, but I don’t want one.
27. I went to the library but forgot my library
23. Neither Michael Jordan nor Shaquille O’
card.
Neal is my favorite basketball player.
28. Both Luke and Leah arrived late and left
24. Mark handed my twin sister and me birthday
early.
cards.
29. We hiked or sat in the sun all day.
25. Either a book or game makes a good gift for
john or Tonya. 30. I admire both the suspension bridge and the
covered bridge.
PRETESTMaking Compound Subjects and Verbs Agree
Write the correct word from the choices in parentheses.
31. (does, do) men or women have more 36. Either the boat or the van (fits, fit) in the
automobile accidents? garage.
32. Andrea and cliff (works, work) at the library. 37. Both gas and electricity (provides, provide)
fuel.
33. Neither Hannah nor her sisters (has, have)
met your cousin. 38. Neither the students nor the teacher (has,
have) seen this film.
34. Either carrots or corn (accompanies,
accompany) the pork chops on this menu. 39. Neither the dog nor the cat (sleeps, sleep)
outdoors.
35. (is, are) the Eiffel tower or the statue of the
liberty taller than empire state building? 40. Two uniformed guards and a fierce dog
(guards, guard) the gate of the mansion.
PRETESTConjunctive Adverbs
Write each sentence. Underline the conjunctive adverb. Add appropriate punctuation.
41. Grass cuttings contain nutrients for your lawn further more short clippings break down fast.
42. The Fukuyamas have a large garden consequently they eat many fresh vegetables.
43. You should stop now besides the report is not due until next week.
44. Put away all your sports equipment likewise put away your other toys.
45. France won the World Cup Brazil however was second.
7.1 PREPOSITIONS AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
A preposition is a word that relates a noun or a pronoun to another word in a sentence.
EXAMPLE The boy near the window is French.
The word near is a preposition. It shows the relationship between the noun window and the word boy.

COMMON PREPOSITIONS

aboard at down off to

about before during on toward
above behind except onto under
across below for opposite underneath
after beneath from out until
against beside in outside up
along besides inside over upon
among between into past with
around beyond like since within
as but (except) near through without
by of throughout

A preposition may consist of more than one word.

EXAMPLE Yasmin will visit Trinidad instead of Jamaica.

SOME PREPOSITIONS OF MORE THAN ONE WORD

according to aside from in front of instead of

across because of in place of on account of
along except for in spite of on top of

a preposition phase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun,
which is called object of the preposition.
EXAMPLE hang the painting outside the new auditorium.
A preposition may have a compound object.
EXAMPLE Between the chair and the table was a window.
PRACTICEIdentifying Prepositional Phrases
Write each prepositional phrase. Underline the preposition and draw a circle around the object of the
preposition.
1. Under the books on the desk, you will find 6. After today Ms. Peters will arrive by buss at
an envelope with your name on it. the stop across the street from the school.
2. The driver of the sleigh stopped in the 7. The stranger walked post the post office
woods near the lake for a few minutes. and into the bank.
3. Since last week, we have planted flowers 8. Will you sit beside me during the period
along the fence and behind the house. before lunch?
4. Until yesterday I had never been inside the 9. The coach postponed the match between
museum without my parents. the Tigers and the Bears because of rain.
5. Go down the street to the corner and turn 10. Today we go over the river and through the
left at the light. woods to Grandmother’s house in a car
instead of an old fashion buggy.
7.2 PRONOUNS AS OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS
When a pronoun is the object of a preposition, use an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun.
EXAMPLE Dan handed the tickets to Natalie.
EXAMPLE Dan handed the tickets to her.

In the example, the object pronoun her replaces Natalie as the object of a preposition to.
A preposition may have a compound object: two or more nouns, two or more pronouns, or a combination of
nouns and pronouns. Use objects pronouns in compound objects.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from Ivan and Vera.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from Ivan and her.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from him and Vera.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from him and her.
Object pronouns are used in the second, third, and fourth sentences. In the second sentence, Ivan and her
is the compound object of the preposition from. In the third sentence, him and Vera is the compound object of
the preposition from. In the fourth sentence, him and her is the compound object of the preposition from.
If you’re not sure whether to use a subject pronoun or an object pronoun, read the sentence aloud with
only the pronoun.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from her.
EXAMPLE I borrowed the suitcase from him.
Who is a subject pronoun. Whom is an object pronoun.
EXAMPLE Wholent you the suitcase?
EXAMPLE From Whom did you borrow the suitcase?
PRACTICEUsing Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions
Write the correct word or phrase from the choices in parentheses.
1. To (who, whom) did you give the message? 6. Did you but that hot dog for (he or I, he or
me, him or me, him or i).
2. Sit between Tasha and (I, me).
7. The principal hurried down the hall toward
3. Were you pointing to (they or we, they or us,
Mr. Corso and (we, us).
them or us, them or we)?
8. For jerry and (she, her) math is easy.
4. The twins and their brother played against
Keint and (we, us). 9. Six cheerleaders were sitting near my mom
and (I, me) at the restaurant.
5. We will go to the movies without Kim and
(she, her). 10. We stood in line behind Miss O’Neill and
(he, him) at the theater.
7.3 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES AS ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
A prepositional phrase is an adjectivephrasewhen it modifies or describes, a noun or pronoun.
EXAMPLE the servers at the new restaurantare courteous.
EXAMPLE the atmosphere includes photographs from old movies.
In the first sentence, the prepositional phraseat the new restaurantmodifies the subject of the sentence,
servers. In the second sentence. the prepositional phrasefrom old moviesmodifies the direct object,
photographs.
Notice that, unlike most adjectives, an adjective phrase usually comes after the word it modifies.
A prepositional phrase is an adverb phrasewhen it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

ADVERB PHRASES
USE EXAMPLES
Modifies a verb The servers dresslike movie characters.
Modifies an adjective The restaurant is a popular with young people.
Modifies an adverb The restaurant opens early in the morning.

Most adverb phrases tell when, where, on how an action take place. More than one prepositional phrase may
modify the same word.

HOW ADVERB PHRASES MODIFY VERBS

WHEN? Many people eat a light meal during the lunch hour.
WHERE? Some eat lunch on the covered patio.
HOW? Others eat their meals in a hurry.
PRACTICE Identifying Adjective and Adverb Phrases
Write each prepositional phrase. Then write the word it modifies. Finally, write adjective or adverb to tell how
it’s used.
1. How many countries lie on the equator? 7. My great-grandparents came from
Germany.
2. I read a book about Martin Luther King Jr.
8. I like movies with action.
3. The patient sipped water through a straw.
9. The luncheon will begin at noon.
4. The flowers along the fence are daffodils.
10. The young man chose his career early in
5. This game is perfect for a rainy day.
life.
6. The day before yesterday was my birthday.

7.4 TELLING PREPOSITIONS AND ADVERBS APART

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether a particular word is being used as a preposition or as an
adverb. Both prepositions and adverbs can answer the question where? And when? The chart below shows
fifteen words that can be used as either prepositions or adverbs. Whether any of these words is a prepositions
or adverbs depends on it’s use in a particular sentence.

SOME WORDS THAT CAN BE USED AS PREPOSITIONS OR ADVERBS

about below out
above down outside
around in over
before inside through
behind near up

if you have trouble deciding whether a word is being used as a preposition or as an adverb, look at the words
is being used as a preposition or as an adverb, look at the other words in the sentence. If the word is followed
closely by a noun or pronoun, the word is probably a preposition, and a noun or pronoun is the object of the
preposition.
EXAMPLE We ate our lunch outsidethe library.
EXAMPLE We walked around the park for an hour.
In the first example, outside is followed closely by noun library. Outside is a preposition, and library is the
object of the preposition. In the second example. Around is a preposition, and park is the object of the
preposition. If the word is not followed by a noun or a pronoun, the is probably an adverb.
EXAMPLE We ate our lunch outside.
EXAMPLE We walked around for an hour.

In the first sentence, outside answers the question where? But is not allowed by a noun or a pronoun. In
this sentence, outside is an adverb. In the second sentence. Around is an adverb. For an hour is a
prepositional phrase.

PRACTICE Identifying Prepositions and Adverbs

Write prepositions or adverb to identify each underlined word.
1. A flock of geese flew over.
2. The cow jumped over the moon.
3. The boy hid behind a tree.
4. Zack fell behind in the race.
5. The detective entered the room and looked
around.
6. He walked around the library several times.
7. From the top of the tower, we looked down.
8. Come inside and get warm.
9. Six impossible things happened before
breakfast.
10. Don’t stand near the door.

7.5 CONJUNCTIONS
A coordinating conjunction is a word use to connect compound parts of a sentence. And, but, or, nor, and
for are coordinating conjunctions. So and yet are also sometimes used as coordinating conjunctions.

USING COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS TO FORM COMPOUNDS

COMPOUND SUBJECT Allison and Rosita have lived in Mexico City.

COMPOUND OBJECTS Give your suitcases and packages to Ben and Bill.
COMPOUND PREDICATE tourists shop or relax on the beaches.
COMPOUND SENTENCE Tillie shopped every day, but we toured the city.

To make the relationship between words or groups of words especially strong, use correlative conjunctions.
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words used to connect compound parts of a sentence. Correlative
conjunctions include both…and, either…or, neither…nor, and not only…but also.
EXAMPLE Examples of great architecture exist in both New York and Paris.
EXAMPLE Neither Luis nor I have visited those cities.

When a compound subject is joined by and, the subject is usually plural. The verb must agree with the
plural subject.
EXAMPLE Winnie and Sumi are in Madrid this week.
When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb must agree with the nearer subject.
EXAMPLE Neither Rhondelle nor the twins speak Spanish.
EXAMPLE Neitherthe twinsnorRhondellespeaks Spanish.

PRACTICEIdentifying Conjunctions and Compounds

Write each conjunction. Then write compound subject, compound object, compound predicate, or compound
sentence to tell what parts the conjunction joins.

1. Tom plays soccer, but his sister prefers
softball.
2. Either Mrs. James or her husband will bring
both the food and the flowers.
3. Neither the assistants nor the head coach
teachers any classes.
4. I brought my raincoat but left my umbrella at
home.
5. Midori will deliver the books or the old
magazines to the hospital or the nursing
center.
6. Give either Mrs. Rio or Ms. Stern my thanks
for their help with the costumes and the
scenery.
7. Enrique and Marisa told the twins and me a
good joke.
8. Neither Stan nor his brothers have time for
the job, and Ms. Hancock will not hire either
Scott or Seth.
9. My sister will take her driver’s test tomorrow
or wait until next week.
10. Not only the mayor but also the council
members will borrow a van or rent a car, but
the students will walk to the parade site.

PRACTICEMaking Compound Subjects and Verbs Agree

Write the correct word from the choices in parentheses

1. Ted and his father (repairs, repair)
motorcycles.
2. Neither the band nor sports (takes, take) all
my extra time.
3. Either the teacher or her aide (prepares,
prepare) the daily attendance report.
4. Neither potato chips nor candy (is, are)
good for your health.
5. Either curtains or draperies (offers, offer) an
attractive window treatment.
6. Neither Bubba nor Jethro (has, have) time
for athletics in the summer.
7. Either my mom or my sisters (helps, help)
me with my homework.
8. Either two chairs or a sofa (is, are) suitable
for a small room.
9. Both biology and botany (is, are) life
sciences.
10. Neither the joneses nor the Hillmans (lives,
live) on this street.

7.6 CONJUNCTION ADVERBS

You can use a special kind of adverb instead of a conjunction to join the simple sentences in a compound
sentence. This special kind of adverb is called a conjunctive adverb.
EXAMPLE Many Asians use chopsticks, but some use forks.
EXAMPLE Many Asians use chopsticks, however, some use forks.
A conjunctive adverb, such us however, is usually stronger and more exact than a coordinating
conjunction like and or but.

USING CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

 TO REPLACE AND besides, furthermore, moreover
TO REPLACE BUT however, nevertheless, still
TO STATE RESULT consequently, therefore, thus
TO STATE EQUALITY equally, likewise, similarity

A conjunctive adverbmay be used to join the simple sentences in a compound sentence.

When two simple sentences are joined with a conjunctive adverb, use a semicolon at the end of the first
sentence. Place a comma after a conjunctive adverb that begins the second part of a compound sentence. If a
conjunctive adverb is used in the middle of the first sentence set it off with commas.
EXAMPLE The school cafeteria sometimes servers Chinese food;
however, these meals are not very tasty.
EXAMPLE The school cafeteria sometimes servers Chinese food;
these mealshowever, are not very tasty.

PRACTICEIdentifying Conjunctive Adverbs

Write each sentence. Underline the conjunctive adverb. Add appropriate punctuation.

1. I forgot my lunch furthermore I have no 6. Mr. Caruso is a great teacher besides he

money. has a wonderful sense of humor.
2. There is no train service from here to Biloxi 7. The islands of the Caribbean have a tropical
a bus however leaves here at noon. climate nevertheless pleasant ocean
breezes cool the beaches of these islands.
3. I have no talent for the piano still I do my
best. 8. Rick is a fine guitarist he has moreover
written several original compositions.
4. Harry is hoping for a career in the United
States Marine crops Michael likewise will 9. The new restaurant had few customers thus
joined the arm forces. it closed in a few months.
5. Morgan gave the best campaign speech 10. The crime was committed in a locked room
consequently she was elected. the detective was therefore puzzled for a
solution.
7.7 INTERJECTIONS
You can express emotions in short exclamations that aren’t complete sentences. These exclamations are
called interjections.
An interjection is a word or group of words that expresses emotion. It has no grammatical connection to other
words in a sentence.
Interjections are used to express emotion, such as surprise or disbelief. They’re also to attract attention.
 SOME COMMON INTERJECTIONS
aha great my ouch
alas ha no well
gee hey oh wow
good grief hooray oops yes
an interjection that expresses strong emotion may stand alone. It begins with a capital letter and ends with
an exclamation point.
EXAMPLE Good grief!My favorite restaurant has closed.
When an interjection expresses mild feelings, it is written as part of the sentence. In that case, the
interjection is set off with commas.
EXAMPLE Oh, well, I’ll just eat at home.
Note most words may be more than one part of speech. A words part of speech depends on its use in a
sentence.
EXAMPLE A duck has soft down on its body. [noun]
EXAMPLE The hungry boy downed the hamburger in three bites. [verb]
EXAMPLE Libby felt down all day. [adjective]
EXAMPLE The baby often falls down.[adverb]
EXAMPLE a car drove down the street. [preposition]
EXAMPLE “Down!”I shouted to the dog. [interjection]

PRACTICEWriting Sentences with Interjections

Write ten sentences, using a different interjection with each. Punctuate correctly.

PRACTICEProofreading
The following passage about the writer Amy Tan. Rewrite the passage, correcting errors in spelling, grammar
and usage. Add any missing punctuation. There are ten errors. Some sentences are correct.

Amy Tan
Amy tan is the author of the joy luck club and the kitchen god’s wife. About who does she write? She
writes about Chinese American women. Amy tan was on born on February 19, 1952. At the age of fifteen, tan
moved to Europe. She returned to the united states and studied English in college.
Tan became a successful business writer nevertheless, she was dissatisfied with her career. For a
chance, she took jazz piano lessons; furthermore she joins a group of writers. She remembered stories about
her mother. Tan wrote about she and other woman. Tan is a popular writer, and her husband is a tax attorney.
Both she and her husband lives in California and new York. Tan is my favorite author. Her stories appeal to my
cousin and I. Either Mom or my aunt discuss the stories with us. May be our teacher will assign more tans
stories.Great

POSTTEST Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Write each prepositional phrase. Underline the preposition and encircle the object of the preposition. Then
write the word the prepositional phrase modifies. Finally, write adjective or adverb to tell how the prepositional
phrase is used.
1. Inside the dark and gloomy room, Lucy saw
only the dim outlines of the bulky furniture.
2. Jacob kicked the ball down the filed and
between the goals posts.
3. Aboard the ship, many passengers without
lifejackets were frantic.
4. Our guest arrived late in the evening.
5. The library near the school will show an
educational film on Sunday afternoon.
POSTTESTPronouns as Object of Prepositions
Write the correct word from the choices in parentheses.
11. Did you eat lunch with Jorge and (they,
them)?
12. The shiny black limousine drove slowly
toward Kevin and (I, me).
13. Besides Hawa and (she, her), who
screamed at the scary scene in the movie?
14. Mrs. Chang waved at the girls and (he,
him).
15. Behind (who, whom) did you wait?
16. Did you hear the good news about Jeff and
(they, them)?
POSTTESTConjunctions
Write the conjunction. Then write compound subject, compound predicate, or compound sentence to tell what
parts the conjunction joins.
21. The doctor examined the patient, and the
nurse took notes.
22. Neither Mom and Dad enjoys television
cartoons, but we children watch the
faithfully.
23. Both Carla and Luisa dry flowers or press
them between the pages of a book.
24. We wanted neither the spinach nor the
zucchini, but our mother fed them to us.
6. The park behind the library will be suitable
for our picnic.
7. On account of rain, the umpire canceled the
game.
8. The bakery across the street makes
delicious sweet rolls.
9. I started this book about king Arthur at eight
and finished it around midnight.
10. The cyclists rode past the barn, over the hill,
through the trees, and along the srea
17. Nothingstood between the barking dog and
(we, us).
18. Against (who, whom) will you play in the
tournament?
19. Mr. Alionzo hurried past Lorenzo and (I, me)
on his way to the parking lot.
20. No one was in the room but ( she, her) and
her sister.
25. Francis Scott Key wrote “The star-Spangled
Banner” in 1814, and the song became our
national anthem in 1931.
26. Is the galaxy or the universe larger?
27. Did you find either the Nile River or the
Amazon River on the map?
28. Muwanee will play the part of the judge or
the mayor.
29. The students walk to the school or take a
bus.
 30. Give either your aunt or your uncle those
free passes.
Posttest making compound subjects and verbs agree
Write the correct word from the choices in parentheses.
31. Neither a paper clip nor these postage 36. Both the turtle and the tortoise (has, have)
stamps (weighs, weigh) much. shells of bony plates.
32. Neither these dimes nor this quarter (starts, 37. Either Amy or Ilom (rides, ride) the
start) the coin-operated washing machine. snowboard.
33. Bill Nye and mw science teacher (conducts, 38. (Does, Do) a Lion or a hyena hunt at night?
conduct) a science experiments on
39. Neither Mark nor his father (wants, want)
television.
these old bicycle tires.
34. Either captain or the sailors (helps, help) the
40. You or the twins (deserves, deserve) a merit
passengers.
badge.
35. Either the spider exhibits or the snake
house (gives, give) me a scare.

POSTTESTConjunction Adverbs
Write each sentence. Underline the conjunctive adverb. Add appropriate punctuation.
41. Most farmers use machines at harvest time nevertheless some Amish farmers follow
older traditions.
42. Fresh vegetables from your own garden taste delicious furthermore they’re good for you.
43. Amelia Earhart flew successfully across the Atlantic in 1932 thus she won America’s
respect.

44. Niagara Falls touches New York likewise it touches Ontario, Canada.
45. Beavers dam waterways with their homes wolves however shelter in caves or dig dens.