English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Identify prepositions
Identify prepositions
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define a preposition and explain its function in a sentence.
Identify common prepositions in various sentence structures.
Distinguish prepositions from adverbs based on their grammatical role.
Locate the object of a preposition within a prepositional phrase.
Identify entire prepositional phrases in complex sentences.
Recognize how prepositions contribute to clarity and detail in writing.
Apply strategies to identify prepositions in literary texts.
Ever wonder how we describe where something is, when something happened, or how things relate to each other? 🤔 Prepositions are the tiny but mighty words that make it all possible!
In this lesson, you'll learn to identify prepositions, understand their role in forming prepositional phrases, and see how...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PrepositionA word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (called the object of the preposition) and another word in the sentence. It often indicates position, direction, time, or manner.The book is *on* the table. ('on' shows the position of the book relative to the table.)
Prepositional PhraseA group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition), along with any modifiers of that object.The cat jumped *over the fence*. ('over the fence' is the prepositional phrase.)
Object of the PrepositionThe noun or pronoun that follows a preposition and completes the meaning of the prepositional phrase. It answers the question 'what?' or 'whom?' after the preposition.S...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'Preposition Test' for Nouns/Pronouns
A preposition always introduces a noun or pronoun (its object). If a word looks like a preposition but is not followed by a noun or pronoun, it's likely an adverb.
To identify a preposition, look for a word that connects to a noun or pronoun. For example, in 'The dog ran *under* the table,' 'under' is a preposition because it's followed by 'table' (a noun). In 'The dog ran *under*,' 'under' is an adverb because it's not followed by a noun/pronoun.
Prepositional Phrase Structure
A prepositional phrase always starts with a preposition and ends with its object (a noun or pronoun), which may have modifiers.
Once you find a preposition, look for the noun or pronoun...
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Challenging
In the sentence, "He ran outside to see the parade go by, then walked by the floats to get a better view," how is the word 'by' used in its two appearances?
A.It is an adverb in both instances.
B.It is a preposition in both instances.
C.It is an adverb first ('go by') and a preposition second ('by the floats').
D.It is a preposition first ('go by') and an adverb second ('by the floats').
Challenging
Identify all the prepositional phrases in the sentence: "According to the legend, the treasure was buried under a giant oak tree on the island across the bay."
A.According to the legend, under a giant oak tree, on the island, across the bay
B.According to the legend, under a giant oak tree
C.on the island, across the bay
D.under a giant oak tree, on the island
Challenging
In which of the following sentences is the word 'since' used as a preposition?
A.I have been waiting since you called.
B.Since you are ready, we can leave.
C.He has been a fan since childhood.
D.It's been a long time since.
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