Page 2 - LN #011109050511.docx

in (preposition) the vase (object)
with (preposition) the polka-dots (object)
to (preposition) the movies (object)
after (preposition) science class (object)
on (preposition) your tiptoes (object)
Some teachers have their students memorize a list of common prepositions. That can be confusing
because sometimes those same words act as adverbs. It is better to understand how they show a
relationship.

Some Common Prepositions

Prepositions of time: after, around, at, before, between, during, from, on, until, at, in,
from, since, for, during, within

Prepositions of place: above, across, against, along, among, around, at, behind,
below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in, inside,
into, near, off, on, opposite, out, over, past, through, to, toward,
under, underneath

Prepositions of at, for, on, to, in, into, onto, between
direction/movement:

Prepositions of manner: by, on, in, like, with

Other types of prepositions: by, with, of, for, by, like, as

Do you need to know what categories they fit into? Not really. It's just a way to sort them.
Remembering time, place, direction, and manner might help you remember what prepositions do.
Hint:
The word to is often a preposition, but it is just as often part of an infinitive verb. If the word
after to is a verb, to is not a preposition.
Preposition: I want to go to Florida for vacation.
Infinitive Verb: I want to go to Florida for vacation.
Hint:
Think of prepositions as arrows.

→ to, at, for...
← from, next to...
↔ with, between...
↑ above, on...
↓ in, inside, under, below...
Hint:
One of the best ways to understand prepositional phrases is to learn how to diagram sentences.