• Although no truly adequate definition exists,

• we can fairly say that prepositions relate nouns or pronouns to other words in the sentence

  • usually with regard to PLACE or DIRECTIONALITY

    • so they're adverbial in nature

• the noun or pronoun in the prepositional phrase functions as the "Object of the Preposition"

  • as such, they will play no other role within the sentence, especially Subject

• an interesting way to remember prepositions is the following:

• “anywhere a mouse can go”

  • a mouse can go in, out, on, off, across, above, below, through, to, ...

    • although this does exclude prepositions such as “for,” “of” and "during."

  • so I often say, "Anywhere a mouse can go plus of, for, and during."

• PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

  • most prepositions form a prepositional phrase

  • which begins with a preposition

  • and ends with the next NOUN or PRONOUN

    • the latter function as the OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

  • no verbs allowed

  • no set number of words (beyond 2)

    • preposition + noun

    • in between can be:  articles, adverbs, adjectives

      • to Walmart

      • to the extremely expensive shoe store

  • to the store

    • the preposition “to”

    • + the noun “store” functioning as the Object of the Preposition

• INFINITIVES

  • still other prepositions form infinitives

  • which consist of the preposition “to” plus the base form of the verb

    • 2 words

      • 1st = to

      • 2nd = verb

  • “to give” “to run” “to buy”—

    • dictionary definitions of verbs

  • I went to the store (prepositional phrase) to buy (infinitive) milk, bread, and cheese.

• EXCEPTION:

  • however, due to the idiomatic nature of our language,

  • some prepositions appear with VERBS

  • (and are thus considered neither prepositional phrases nor infinitives):

    • concerned with/over/about

    • shut up, speak up

    • stand up, sit down

    • slow down, speed up

    • bored with, interested in

    • similar to, independent of

• EXCEPTION:

  • further, some prepositions appear as COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS:

• ** “off” is not followed by “of”**

  • Please take the pictures off the wall.

  • NOT Please take the pictures off of the wall.
     

• as writers, you have a choice to use either prepositional phrases or possessive nouns

  • do NOT do both

  • (the dress of the girl’s)

• The girl’s dress was made of satin.

• The dress of the girl was made of satin.

  • no (’s) necessary

• also at your authorial discretion is the use of prepositional phrases or indirect objects

  • the choice may come down to a matter of emphasis

• We sent a letter to her. (PP) We sent her a letter. (IO)

• We bought a dress for her. (PP) We bought her a dress. (IO)

• the OBJECT of the PREPOSITION cannot function as the SUBJECT of the sentence

  • usually, the OBJECT of the PREPOSITION will not affect your choice of verb

  • when it comes to Subject-Verb Agreement

• EXCEPTION:

  • when you use the INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

    • any, all, some, more, most, none

  • you must consult the object of the preposition to determine if your verb should be singular or plural:

    • Some of the milk has spoiled.

      • “milk” is the OP and is singular, so the verb has to be the singular “has”

    • Some of the hockey players have grown their playoff beards.

      • “players” is the OP and is plural, so the verb has to be the plural “have”