Prepositions Recall first that the direct object of a transitive verb answers the questions:  What? OR: Who?  Examples:  You saw a movie.     What  did you see? He bought a car.     What  did he buy? She loves him.     Who  does she love?  She carried her son.     Who  did she carry? Prepositions  answer  different  questions…
Prepositions Prepositions  answer the question  Where: John is sitting  by  a tree.  Where  is John sitting?  Prepositions  answer the question  When: John left  in  the morning.  When  did John leave?  He went  to  school.  Where  did he go?  The book is  on  the shelf.  Where  is the book?  It starts  before  10 am When  does it start?  They ate lunch  at  noon.  When  did they eat lunch?
Prepositions Prepositions  never appear by themselves. They are  followed by  a  noun-phrase  or a  pronoun .  *The pen is  on . The pen is  on   the desk *She looked  at .  She looked  at   him .  The underlined word below also answers the question  When . But is it a preposition?  John saw the movie  yesterday . NO!!! *John saw the movie  in John saw the movie  in   the afternoon
Test 1 for  Prepositions (It is)  _______  the table Examples:  above  the table;  across  the table;  against  the table;  around  the table;  behind  the table;  below  the table;  beneath  the table;  beside  the table;  between  the tables;  by  the table;  on  the table;  over  the table;  under  the table.
Test 2 for  Prepositions (I walked)  ______  that place. Examples:  from  that place;  beyond  that place;  in  that place;  into  that place;  near  that place;  to  that place;  through  that place;  within  that place;  towards  that place.
Test 3 for  Prepositions (it was/it happened)  ______  that time/ 12 o'clock Examples:   after  12 o'clock;  around  12 o'clock;  at  12 o'clock;  before  12 o'clock;  by  12 o'clock;  about  that time;  during  that time;  for  that time;  since  that time;  throughout  that time;  till  that time;  towards  that time;  until  that time;  within  that time.
Some prepositions only pass  one  of the tests, so you should use all tests to be sure.  Still, these tests don’t identify ALL prepositions.  Some more fairly common prepositions are :  Along ;  among ;  despite ;  down ;  up ;  onto ;  out ;  with ,  without   The most common prepositions in English are :  Of ,  on ,  to ,  with ,  in ,  from By ,  for ,  at ,  over ,  across
Prepositions Note that prepositions  must  be followed by a noun-phrase:  1. John walked up the hill.  “ up ” is a  preposition  in sentence 1.  2. The bird flew up.  “ up” is NOT a preposition in sentence 2.  3. John came up with a great idea.  “ up” is NOT a preposition in sentence 3.  “ came up ” is a phrasal  verb .
Prepositions 4. John walked out.  “ out” is NOT a preposition in (4) 5. John walked out the door.  “ out” is a preposition in (5) 6. John spelled out the instructions.    “ Spell out” is a phrasal verb in (6)
Prepositions Sometimes  Prepositions  answer questions that require the use of TWO words (the  Preposition  + the question word):  She is  from  Texas.  Where is she  from ?  He hasn’t seen her  since  yesterday Since  when hasn’t he seen her?  You saw the movie  with  Greg. With  whom did you see the movie?
A bit more on Linking  Verbs Linking verbs can be followed by an  adjective : 1. John  is   hungry .  Linking verbs can be followed by a  noun-phrase :  2. John  is   a   student .  Linking verbs can be followed by… a  preposition : 3. John  is   at  school. 4. The house  is   on  fire.
Infinitive “to” VS. the  preposition  “to”  Is the underlined word a preposition?  John went  to  the store.  John likes  to  sleep.  I gave it  to  him.  He deserves  to  be heard.  How do we distinguish the two types of “to” ?  I. Infinitive “to” is followed by a  verb .  II. The  preposition  “ to ” is followed by a  noun- phrase  or a  pronoun .
Is the underlined word a  preposition ?  John ate pizza  after  the movie.  John ate pizza  after  he saw the movie.  She waited  until  the end.  She waited  until  the movie ended.  Jane exercised  before  lunch.  Jane exercised  before  she ate.
Prepositions can be followed by  noun-phrases  or  pronouns , but  NOT   sentences John ate pizza  after  [ the movie ].  John ate pizza  after  [ he saw the movie ].  She waited  until  [ the end ].  She waited  until  [ the movie ended ].  Jane exercised  before  [ lunch ].  Jane exercised  before  [ she ate ].  The underlined words in (2), (4) and (6) are called  conjunctions , and that’s our next topic…
Review- Identify the prepositions: 1.  I came home around 9 P.M. last night. 2.  She found a package on her doorstep. 3.  His heroism was beyond the call of duty. 4.  During the long ride, the kids listened to  the radio. 5.  John can finish the job within that time  frame.
Review- Identify the prepositions: 6.  The candidate withdrew from the race. The stream wanders through Mrs. Perkins'  property. From our vantage point, we could see the  sun rising above the horizon. 9.  They decided to bicycle for an hour. 10.The post office is around the corner and to  the right of the grocery store.
Homework Read and do all the exercises in unit 5.

Unit 5 prepositions

  • 1.
    Prepositions Recall firstthat the direct object of a transitive verb answers the questions: What? OR: Who? Examples: You saw a movie.  What did you see? He bought a car.  What did he buy? She loves him.  Who does she love? She carried her son.  Who did she carry? Prepositions answer different questions…
  • 2.
    Prepositions Prepositions answer the question Where: John is sitting by a tree. Where is John sitting? Prepositions answer the question When: John left in the morning. When did John leave? He went to school. Where did he go? The book is on the shelf. Where is the book? It starts before 10 am When does it start? They ate lunch at noon. When did they eat lunch?
  • 3.
    Prepositions Prepositions never appear by themselves. They are followed by a noun-phrase or a pronoun . *The pen is on . The pen is on the desk *She looked at . She looked at him . The underlined word below also answers the question When . But is it a preposition? John saw the movie yesterday . NO!!! *John saw the movie in John saw the movie in the afternoon
  • 4.
    Test 1 for Prepositions (It is) _______ the table Examples: above the table; across the table; against the table; around the table; behind the table; below the table; beneath the table; beside the table; between the tables; by the table; on the table; over the table; under the table.
  • 5.
    Test 2 for Prepositions (I walked) ______ that place. Examples: from that place; beyond that place; in that place; into that place; near that place; to that place; through that place; within that place; towards that place.
  • 6.
    Test 3 for Prepositions (it was/it happened) ______ that time/ 12 o'clock Examples: after 12 o'clock; around 12 o'clock; at 12 o'clock; before 12 o'clock; by 12 o'clock; about that time; during that time; for that time; since that time; throughout that time; till that time; towards that time; until that time; within that time.
  • 7.
    Some prepositions onlypass one of the tests, so you should use all tests to be sure. Still, these tests don’t identify ALL prepositions. Some more fairly common prepositions are : Along ; among ; despite ; down ; up ; onto ; out ; with , without The most common prepositions in English are : Of , on , to , with , in , from By , for , at , over , across
  • 8.
    Prepositions Note thatprepositions must be followed by a noun-phrase: 1. John walked up the hill. “ up ” is a preposition in sentence 1. 2. The bird flew up. “ up” is NOT a preposition in sentence 2. 3. John came up with a great idea. “ up” is NOT a preposition in sentence 3. “ came up ” is a phrasal verb .
  • 9.
    Prepositions 4. Johnwalked out. “ out” is NOT a preposition in (4) 5. John walked out the door. “ out” is a preposition in (5) 6. John spelled out the instructions.  “ Spell out” is a phrasal verb in (6)
  • 10.
    Prepositions Sometimes Prepositions answer questions that require the use of TWO words (the Preposition + the question word): She is from Texas. Where is she from ? He hasn’t seen her since yesterday Since when hasn’t he seen her? You saw the movie with Greg. With whom did you see the movie?
  • 11.
    A bit moreon Linking Verbs Linking verbs can be followed by an adjective : 1. John is hungry . Linking verbs can be followed by a noun-phrase : 2. John is a student . Linking verbs can be followed by… a preposition : 3. John is at school. 4. The house is on fire.
  • 12.
    Infinitive “to” VS.the preposition “to” Is the underlined word a preposition? John went to the store. John likes to sleep. I gave it to him. He deserves to be heard. How do we distinguish the two types of “to” ? I. Infinitive “to” is followed by a verb . II. The preposition “ to ” is followed by a noun- phrase or a pronoun .
  • 13.
    Is the underlinedword a preposition ? John ate pizza after the movie. John ate pizza after he saw the movie. She waited until the end. She waited until the movie ended. Jane exercised before lunch. Jane exercised before she ate.
  • 14.
    Prepositions can befollowed by noun-phrases or pronouns , but NOT sentences John ate pizza after [ the movie ]. John ate pizza after [ he saw the movie ]. She waited until [ the end ]. She waited until [ the movie ended ]. Jane exercised before [ lunch ]. Jane exercised before [ she ate ]. The underlined words in (2), (4) and (6) are called conjunctions , and that’s our next topic…
  • 15.
    Review- Identify theprepositions: 1. I came home around 9 P.M. last night. 2. She found a package on her doorstep. 3. His heroism was beyond the call of duty. 4. During the long ride, the kids listened to the radio. 5. John can finish the job within that time frame.
  • 16.
    Review- Identify theprepositions: 6. The candidate withdrew from the race. The stream wanders through Mrs. Perkins' property. From our vantage point, we could see the sun rising above the horizon. 9. They decided to bicycle for an hour. 10.The post office is around the corner and to the right of the grocery store.
  • 17.
    Homework Read anddo all the exercises in unit 5.