When you look at the night sky the moon is above your head, in the sky. If there is no moonlight, darkness may be all around you.

Words like above, in, and around are called prepositions. Prepositions show relationship between words in a sentence.

Put your hands behind your head. Put your hands on your knees.

Place your finger next to your belly button.Sit in your chair.

Turn towards the window.Sit in your seat

Stand to the right of your desk.Stand in front of your desk.

Put your finger by your nose.Place your finger between your eyes.

A preposition is a word that shows relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence. A preposition is always followed by an object, either a noun or pronoun.

The article about insects is interesting.PrepositionPreposition

Here, the preposition about shows the relationship between the words article and insects

A preposition is a word that shows relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence. A preposition is always followed by an object, either a noun or pronoun.

The article about insects is interesting.PrepositionPreposition

Here, the preposition about shows the relationship between the words article and insects

COMMON PREPOSITIONSAboveAboutAcrossAfterAgainstAlongAmongAroundAtBeforeBehind

BelowBeneathBesideBetweenBeyondByDownDuringExceptForFrom

InInsideIntoNearOfOffOnOut

OutsideOverPastThroughTo/towardUnderUponUntilUpWith

Some prepositions have more than one word.Ahead ofInstead ofBy means ofIn front ofIn addition to

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence.

Bob ran the barricade!

…to begin sentences.

We watched the new DVD’s during film class.

During film class, we watched the new DVD’s.

We listened to the band’s new songs at the concert.

At the concert, we listened to the band’s new songs

Place them so they clearly refer to the word they modify (usually as close as possible).

The boy in jeans carried his large tape recorder.

The boy carried his large tape recorder in jeans.

Common Prepositions

AboutAboveAcrossAfterAgainstAlongAmongAroundAs

AtBeforeBehindBelowBeneathBesideBetweenBeyondBy

DespiteDownDuringExceptForFromInInsideInto

LikeNearOfOffOnOutOverPastThrough

ToTowardUnderUntilUpWithWithinWithout

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. The object of the preposition is the noun or pronoun following the preposition.

Some people have depicted insects in art.ObjectObject

Beetle images decorate the jewelry of many cultures.

Some believed that dreams come from a butterfly.

PrepositionPreposition

ModifierModifierPrepositionPreposition ObjectObject

ArticleArticlePrepositionPreposition ObjectObject

Prepositional PhrasePrepositional Phrase

When they write, they should try to place each prepositional phrase as close as possible to the word it modifies. Otherwise, you may confuse, or unintentionally amuse, your readers.

With eight hairy legs, the bird chased the spider.(This must be the worlds weirdest bird!)

The bird chased the spider with eight hairy legs.(Now the reader can tell who has the hairy legs!)

Unclear

Clear

Circle all the prepositions in the following writing sample

FLOOD HITS BELOW THE DAM

As heavy rains continued reporters arrived at the scene. Scores of people were evacuated from their homes and moved to rescue centers. Hundreds of acres of croplands were under water. Herds of cattle can be seen moving up the mountains. Pictures of the flood are on TV and in this newspaper on page three. The Governor will arrive at the scene before nightfall.

FLOOD HITS BELOW THE DAM

As heavy rains continued, reporters arrived at the scene. Scores of people were evacuated from their homes and moved to rescue centers. Hundreds of acres of croplands were under water. Herds of cattle can be seen moving up the mountains. Pictures of the flood are on TV and in this newspaper on page three. The Governor will arrive at the scene before nightfall.

Circle all the prepositions in the following writing sample.