Lesson
14
Prepositions
94 PARTS OF SPEECH
A preposition relates a noun or pronoun to some other part
of the sentence.
Here are some examples of what prepositions do:
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1. The group will meet before lunch.
V. PREP. N.
(The preposition before relates the noun lunch to the verb will meet.)
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2. A letter for you came today.
N. PREP. PRON.
(The preposition for relates the pronoun you to the noun letter.)
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3. It is cool in the shade.
ADJ. PREP. N.
(The preposition in relates the noun shade to the adjective cool.)
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4. The shelf was finished poorly along the edges.
ADV. PREP. N.
(The preposition along relates the noun edges to the adverb poorly.)

across down over
after during past
against except since
along for through
among from throughout
around in till
at inside to
because of in spite of toward
before instead of under
behind into until
below like up
beside of upon
between off with
beyond on within
but (meaning “except”) without
EXERCISE 1.
Each of the following sayings may or may not contain a preposition.
If it contains a preposition, write that preposition in the space provided. If it does not,
write no prep.
Samples:
Do not put all your eggs in one basket.
The early bird catches the worm.
no prep.
in
PREPOSITIONS 95
1. A word to the wise is sufficient.
2. Do not judge a book by its cover.
3. Fools and their money are soon parted.
4. An apple never falls far from the tree.
5. Birds of a feather flock together.

Object of the Preposition
The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition is the object
of the preposition.
He slammed the ball out of the infield.
PREP. OBJ. OF PREP.
(The noun infield is the object of the preposition out of.)
Please do not leave without us.
PREP. OBJ. OF PREP.
(The pronoun us is the object of the preposition without.)
EXERCISE 3.
Find the preposition and the object of the preposition.
Samples:
PREP. OBJ. OF PREP.
Who was behind the wheel?
Because of you, we could not go.
1. The story is about a teen.
2. Get out of this house!
3. Meet me outside the library.
4. She has been sick since Friday.
5. Wait until next week.
6. Do you want rye bread instead of a roll?
7. Everyone agreed except Ryan.
8. Drop the rental DVD in the nearest return
slot.
youBecause of
wheelbehind
PREPOSITIONS 97
PREP. OBJ. OF PREP.
9. Football play continued in spite of the
snow.

EXAMPLE OF A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE ENDING WITH A PRONOUN
:
Without her, they would have lost the game.
PREP. PHR.
(The prepositional phrase Without her consists of the preposition without
and the pronoun her. The pronoun her is the object of the preposition with-
out.)
EXERCISE 1.
Underline the prepositional phrase. Then, in the spaces at the right, en-
ter the preposition and the object of the preposition.
Sample:
PREP. OBJ. OF PREP.
I bought a ticket for the first performance.
1. With your help we cannot fail.
2. The Jacksons live above us.
3. Take the train instead of the bus.
4. Nate swims like a fish.
5. In spite of her failure, she will try again.
performancefor
PREPOSITIONS 99
Composition Hint
Sometimes we can express an idea through either an adverb or a prepositional
phrase.
Handle the glassware carefully.
ADV.
Handle the glassware with care.
PREP. PHR.
If you know more than one way to express your ideas, you will be a better writer.
EXERCISE 2.
Replace the italicized adverb with a prepositional phrase.

You may find yourself without a penny.
A mayor is an important person.
A mayor is a person of importance.
1. Many European tourists visit the United States each year.
2. My help was useless.
3. Many cars are designed to use unleaded gasoline.
4. The Canadian people are our neighbors.
5. Take the end seat.
EXERCISE 4.
One of the most admired short poems in American literature is “Fog,”
by Carl Sandburg.
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
1. In which prepositional phrase does Carl Sandburg tell
(a) how the fog comes? __________ __________ __________ __________
(b) how the fog sits? __________ __________ __________ __________
(c) where the fog looks? __________ __________ __________ __________
2. What part of speech is the
last word of the poem? ___________________________
PREPOSITIONS 101