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Prepositions Note: This document should only be used as a reference and should not replace assignment guidelines. Prepositions begin phrases that modify other words in the sentence. Often, they describe relationships in time or space, showing how a noun or pronoun relates to another word within a sentence. Common Prepositions Below is a list of common prepositions. (Note: A preposition may be more than one word.) about aboard above according to across after against along with among as at because of before behind below beneath beside between but by down despite during except for for from in in addition to inside in spite of like near of off on top of out outside over past since through throughout till to toward under underneath until unto up upon with within without Prepositional Phrases A preposition is most often followed by a noun or pronoun that serves as the object of the preposition. The preposition, its object, and all words that modify the object make up a prepositional phrase. Prepositional Phrase under my old table because of his horrible attitude Preposition under because of Modifiers my old his horrible Object table attitude The Role of Prepositional Phrases Prepositional phrases normally function as adjectives or adverbs within a sentence. Adjectival Prepositional Phrases—As adjectives, prepositional phrases usually follow the noun or pronoun they modify and answer questions like Which one? or What kind? EXAMPLES: The girl from Canada. (Which girl? The girl from Canada. The phrase modifies girl.) A day like today. (What kind of day? A day like today. The phrase modifies day.) Adverbial Prepositional Phrases—As adverbs, prepositional phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer questions such as the following: When? Where? How? Why? To what extent? Under what conditions? EXAMPLES: I slept in the barn. (The phrase modifies the verb slept. It answers the question Where?) For you, I’ll do it! (The phrase explains under what conditions you’ll do it.) I am tired of this show. (The phrase, of this show, modifies the adjective tired.) Library 208 • 801-863-8936 • www.uvu.edu/writingcenter Facebook: UVUWritingCenter • Twitter: @uvuwritingctr Prepositions Note: This document should only be used as a reference and should not replace assignment guidelines. Identifying Prepositions The words before, after, until, as, and since sometimes act as prepositions and sometimes act as conjunctions. If you find one of these words with both a noun/pronoun and a verb following it, the word is functioning as a conjunction. (See Conjunctions handout.) CONJUNCTIONS: Before you went to school, mom told you to eat breakfast. Before is followed by both a pronoun (you) and a verb (went), making it a conjunction. I will watch as the doctor operates. As is followed by a noun (the doctor) and a verb (operates) making as a conjunction in this case. If one of these words is followed only by a noun/pronoun (and words describing the noun) and no verb, it is functioning as a preposition. PREPOSITIONS: Before school, I always eat breakfast. The phrase before school contains before and a noun but no verb, so before is a preposition. He works as a full-time doctor. The phrase as a full-time doctor contains as and a noun (doctor) with modifiers (a fulltime) but no verb, so as must be a preposition. Library 208 • 801-863-8936 • www.uvu.edu/writingcenter Facebook: UVUWritingCenter • Twitter: @uvuwritingctr