Prepositions Introduction

A preposition is usually a short word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence.

If I'm not mistaken, her birthday is in May

Prepositions do not change their form.

I want (What?) to go (Where?) to the movies (=I had a desire to go to the movies.)

Prepositions can consist of one, two, or more words.

Josh went to the club instead of studying for his exams
There was a huge traffic jam in front of us

Prepositions can be divided into the following categories:

prepositions of place state the positions or location of one thing with another.

Kate works at Starbucks

prepositions of time denote specific time periods.

We usually go to our relatives at Christmas

prepositions of direction or motion indicate movement from one place to the other.

There's a great pub across the street

prepositions of manner express the manner in which something is done.

You can't achieve success by doing nothing

prepositions of cause, purpose, and reason indicate why, what for, or because of what something happens.

She couldn't attend the meeting due to some family issues

Guided Practice#

My sister lives in Oklahoma, but she is planning on moving to California.

I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and one more at noon.

She was the person to go to work at Christmas or at Thanksgiving.

Ann usually goes to work by bus.

I want to go to the fish market to buy something tasty for breakfast.

Short Story using Prepositions#

-What do you do for fun?

-I usually hang out with my friends. Sometimes we go to the movies together. Sometimes we throw parties at someone's place. And you?

-That sounds cool! Well, I moved to this state in May so I haven't really made new friends yet. All my friends are back home.

-Why don't you come over? I think you'll like my friends and they'll like you!

-Oh, that would be great!

Independent Practice#

Spot prepositions in the following text.

He pointed his finger in friendly jest and went over to the parapet, laughing to himself. Stephen Dedalus stepped up, followed up him wearily halfway and sat down on the edge of the gunrest, watching him still as he propped his mirror on the parapet, dipped the brush in the bowl and lathered cheeks and neck.

...

Stephen stood up and went over to the parapet. Leaning on it he looked down on the water and on the mailboat clearing the harbourmouth of Kingstown. [Ulysses by James Joyce]