Transcript Putting Prepositional Phrases in the Proper Place

Putting Prepositional Phrases in
the Proper Place
What is a preposition?
• A preposition is a word that shows the
relationship of a noun to another word in the
sentence.
• You can remember common prepositions by
thinking of
– Anywhere a rabbit goes: up, down, inside, along,
before, on top of, in front of, etc.
– Plus words like to, for, as, with,
since
Here is a list of common prepositions:
at
by
for
of
to
above
below
from
off
toward
aboard
between
in
on
under
among
since
inside
outside
until
against
despite
into
over
upon
beneath
during
like
than
with
beyond
except
near
through
without
Prepositional Phrases
• Prepositions begin prepositional phrases.
• A prepositional phrase can be described with
this equation:
• preposition
any modifiers
object of
preposition
Prepositional Phrase
• For example:
– Ned juggles dots in the air.
– In the air is the prepositional phrase.
What’s not a prepositional phrase?
Remember that the part of speech a word is
depends on how it is used.
A prepositional phrase will always be directly
followed by its object (a noun or pronoun) and
any modifiers, NEVER by a verb or by a subject
and verb.
Watch for these prepositional
imposters!
• The preposition in a TRUE prepositional
phrase will not be followed by a verb. That is
called an infinitive.
• For example, in the sentence, I like to read
books in my spare time, the phrase
to read is not a prepositional
phrase because to is followed by
the verb read.
Another imposter!
The preposition in a prepositional phrase will
NEVER be the start of a clause with a verb and
its subject.
For example, consider this sentence: The car
stopped as the traffic guard held up a yellow
sign. The phrase as the traffic
guard held up a yellow sign is
NOT a prepositional phrase
because it is followed by the
noun traffic guard and the verb
held.
Find the prepositional phrases in these
sentences.
• Sonny presents a fishing rod to his
grandfather.
• The rod and reel with the red bow were
bought in town.
• Sonny hopes he and Grandpa can go fishing in
the summer.
Find the prepositional phrases in these
sentences.
• Sonny presents a fishing rod to his
grandfather.
• The rod and reel with the red bow were
bought in town.
• Sonny hopes he and Grandpa can go fishing in
the summer.
Sometimes sentences have more than
one prepositional phrase.
Find the prepositional phrases in these
sentences:
• The student in the art class measures the
figures in the painting with his thumb.
• He is painting a picture to go in a show for
students and their parents,
hosted by his college.
Sometimes sentences have more than
one prepositional phrase.
Find the prepositional phrases in these
sentences:
• The student in the art class measures the
figures in the painting with his thumb.
• He is painting a picture to go in a show for
students and their parents,
hosted by his college.
Prepositional phrases make sentences
more interesting!
Add at least one prepositional phrase to each of
the following sentences.
• Bob runs.
• Fred waits.
• Bob hands the baton.
• The crowd watches.
What did you write?
Misplaced Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases should go as closely as
possible to the word they are modifying.
If they modify a noun, they should be directly
after that noun.
If a prepositional phrase is misplaced,
the meaning of the sentence
is confused!
Here’s an example of a misplaced
prepositional phrase.
This Christmas, the family tree was decorated
by Fred and Ethel with red and yellow
ornaments.
(This sentence sounds like
poor Fred and Ethel are
covered in Christmas
ornaments!)
Hint: What actually has the
red and yellow ornaments?
Corrected!
Instead, correct the sentence by putting the phrase
with red and yellow ornaments next to the words it
modifies.
This Christmas, the family
tree with red and yellow
ornaments was decorated
by Fred and Ethel.
Here’s another example of a misplaced
prepositional phrase.
During the rain storm, Spot, with a blue
umbrella, is being sheltered by his
master.
(Isn’t Spot a lucky dog to have his very own blue umbrella?)
How would you correct this
sentence?
Hint: Who really has
a blue umbrella?
Corrected!
How about this?
Change the prepositional phrase with a blue
umbrella so that it is next to master.
During the rain storm, Spot
is being sheltered
by his master
with a blue umbrella.
Here’s a third example of a misplaced
prepositional phrase.
The lost golf ball was discovered near the golf
course hole by the golfer with a blue flag on
top.
(This sentence seems to mean
that the golfer had a blue flag
flying on top of his head!)
Hint: What actually has
a blue flag on top?
Corrected!
Instead, try this version:
The lost golf ball was discovered by the
golfer near the golf course hole with a
blue flag on top.
Now the prepositional phrases with
a blue flag on top are directly after
the words they modify, golf course
hole. By the golfer is next to discovered.
The sentence makes sense!
The golfer was probably glad
not to have to walk around all day
with a blue flag on his head!
Now its your turn!
• Step 1: Select one of the sentences below.
Write the uncorrected version in the space
provided on the back of your notes sheet.
• Step 2: Draw a picture that illustrates the
uncorrected version.
• Step 3: Write the corrected version in the
space provided.
• Step 4: Draw a picture of the corrected
version.
Select one of these uncorrected
sentences.
• The lady at the grocery lost her purse with a
new hairdo.
• In the city, we saw a man walking a dog with a
tuxedo on.
• My dress was sent to the dry cleaners with
pink polka dots.
• My brother has a new car in college.
Good Job!