PREPOSITIONS

· 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

· an interesting way to remember prepositions is the following:

· “anywhere a mouse can go”

· although this does exclude prepositions such as “for” and “of”

about	above	across	after	against	along	among	around
at	before	behind	below	beneath	beside	besides	between
beyond	by	concerning	down	during	except	for	from
in	inside	into	near	of	off	on	onto
out	outside	over	past	since	through	to	toward
under	until	up	upon	with	within	without

B) *LOCATION:

· most prepositions form a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE, which begins with a preposition and ends with the next NOUN or PRONOUN

o the latter function as the OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

o to the store = the preposition “to” + the noun “store” functioning as the OP

· still other prepositions form INFINITIVES, which consist of the preposition “to” plus the base form of the 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):

o concerned with/over/about

o shut up, speak up

o stand up, sit down

o slow down, speed up

o bored with, interested in

o similar to, independent of

· EXCEPTION: further, some prepositions appear as COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS:

according to apart from/aside from as to

because of in spite of instead of

on account of on top of out of

owing to

** “off” is not followed by “of”**

Please take the pictures off the wall. NOT Please take the pictures off of the wall.

C) PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES = opposite of POSSESSIVE NOUNS:

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

o do NOT do both (the dress of the girl’s)

o The girl’s dress was made of satin.

o The dress of the girl was made of satin. [no (’s) necessary]

D) *PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES replace INDIRECT OBJECTS:

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

o the choice may come down to a matter of emphasis

o We sent a letter to her. (PP) We bought a dress for her. (PP)

o We sent her a letter. (IO) We bought her a dress. (IO)

E) *PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES and SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:

· 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

· 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:

o Some of the milk has spoiled.

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

o 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”