Parts of Speech

Preposition

Part Definition ExampleNoun A person, place, thing, or idea. Under the clouds, we felt like fish swimming in suntan oil.

Pronoun A word that takes the place of one or more nouns

Electra thought that her tattoo was larger than she expected.

Verb A word or phrase that expresses action or a state of being

The movie starts at 9:00. (action)

The movie is terrible. (being)

Adjectives A word that modifies a noun or a pronoun

That new blue sports car has aluminum rims. It also has a high-tech GPS system.

Adverb A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb

I instantly realized that I had just insulted the mayor and that she was quite angry with me.

Preposition Shows relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence

Often indicate location, direction, or time.

Location Direction Time

She says she put the book on the table.

You head into town.

You should go on Saturday.

Look in the family room.

I will walk toward the gas station.

The basketball tournament is held in the spring.

Some Common Prepositions

Hint: Anywhere a mouse can go. aboard before down off till

about behind during on to

above below except onto toward

across beneath for opposite under

after beside from out underneath

against besides in outside until

along between inside over up

among beyond into past upon

around but (except) like since with

as by near through within

at concerning of throughout without

Prepositional Phrase: a group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun.

Object of a preposition: the noun or pronoun at the end of the prepositional phrase.

(preposition) (object of prep)

We hiked in the early evening.

(prepositional phrase)

We walked behind the old shed.

He would not go near the lake or the ruins.

Preposition or Adverb?

Preposition We wanted to keep the dog inside the house.

Adverb When the sun set, we all went inside.

When the word is part of a prepositional phrase, then it’s a preposition.

When the word stands alone, then it’s an adverb.