What Are Prepositions?

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What is a preposition?

A preposition links words by showing time or place.

FAQs About Prepositions

Find answers to frequently asked questions about prepositions in this blog post. Learn about prepositions and how to answer your child’s grammar questions concerning prepositions. Download a free list of prepositions and worksheets from The Good and the Beautiful Level 4 Language Arts course. Then sing along with the illustrated “Preposition Song” to help your child memorize more than 30 prepositions.

  • “Preposition Song” Lyrics

    I know prepositions.
    They show time or position.

    These are prepositions that I know:
    behind, beside, below, by,
    into, onto, over, like,
    inside, outside, underneath,
    before, after, in between,
    above, around, on, up, down,
    during, within, past, in, out.

    Don’t forget these little ones.
    We use them quite a lot:
    to, of, for, from, at, with, off.

  • Download “The Prepositions Song” lyrics and sample pages about prepositions from the Level 4 Language Arts course and Quick Reference Guide Levels 4–8!

    A collage of pages including the preposition song and lesson 24 on prepositions | The Good and the Beautiful

    Click Here for FREE Download

Have fun memorizing prepositions with this video of the “Preposition Song” taught in The Good and the Beautiful Level 4 Language Arts course.

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  • What are prepositions?

    Prepositions link words in a sentence, usually by showing position in time or space.

Examples of common prepositions

    • about
    • behind
    • instead of
    • regarding
    • above
    • below
    • like
    • since
    • according to
    • beneath
    • minus
    • through
    • across
    • beside
    • near
    • to
    • after
    • beyond
    • next to
    • toward
    • along
    • by
    • of
    • under
    • among
    • down
    • off
    • underneath
    • apart from
    • during
    • on
    • until
    • around
    • except
    • onto
    • unlike
    • as
    • for
    • out
    • up
    • as well as
    • from
    • outside
    • upon
    • at
    • in
    • over
    • with
    • because of
    • into
    • past
    • within
    • before
    • inside
    • plus
    • without

Examples of prepositions in sentences

  • The ship sailed through the sea. (shows position in SPACE)
  • Waves crash during high tide. (shows position in TIME)
  • An illustrated image of a tall lighthouse with a seagull flying close by | The Good and the Beautiful

  • What is a prepositional phrase?

    A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

    Examples of prepositional phrases

    • There are 120 lighthouses in Michigan.
    • A white seagull flew over me.

What is the object of the preposition?

The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition.

Examples of the object of the preposition

  • She steered toward the shore. (Toward is the preposition; shore is the object of the preposition.)
  • The lighthouse towers above the trees. (Above is the preposition; “trees” is the object of the preposition.)

How do I use a preposition at the beginning of a sentence?

When a prepositional phrase is at the beginning of the sentence AND is four words or more, use a comma after the prepositional phrase.

Examples of introductory prepositional phrases

  • Beside the old well, the little boy placed a bucket.
  • Over the darkened sea, the lighthouse shines.
  • An illustrated image of a lighthouse in the dark and a starry sky | The Good and the Beautiful

  • What are other types of words in a prepositional phrase?

    A prepositional phrase consists of the preposition, the object of the preposition, and any words that modify the object.

    Examples of modifying words in prepositional phrases

    • A lighthouse stands on a sturdy rock.
    • The ship tosses on the stormy sea.

What do prepositional phrases never contain?

Prepositional phrases never contain verbs. 

For example, “After dinner” is a prepositional phrase, but “After we eat dinner” is not a prepositional phrase.

Video Lesson About Prepositions

Watch this lesson video about prepositions and prepositional phrases from The Good and the Beautiful Level 4 Language Arts course. Then download the free sample pages.

    • Download “The Prepositions Song” lyrics and sample pages about prepositions from the Level 4 Language Arts course and Quick Reference Guide Levels 4–8!

      A collage of pages including the preposition song and lesson 24 on prepositions | The Good and the Beautiful

      Click Here for FREE Download

    Learn more about prepositions and other grammar principles and writing skills in The Good and the Beautiful Level 4 Language Arts course.

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    • Level 4 Language Arts

      This language arts course for fourth grade not only covers grammar and writing, but it also incorporates reading, spelling, vocabulary, literature, art, and geography as well. Weaving subjects together into one course makes learning more meaningful.

      Purchase the full course or download it for free today!

      Learn More

    Find quick answers to common grammar, word usage, and other writing questions in the Language Arts & Literature Quick Reference Guide for grades 4–8.

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    • Quick Reference Guide

      The Quick Reference Guide Levels 4–8 includes reminders for grammar concepts and other helpful references, such as word lists, steps to sentence diagramming, sentence structure, and more.

      Learn More

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