Prepositions function within phrases to modify main verbs ...Prepositions function within phrases to modify main verbs, nouns, or adjectives. They also express spatial and temporal

Prepositionsfunctionwithinphrasestomodifymainverbs,nouns,oradjectives.

Theyalsoexpressspatialandtemporalrelationshipsbetweenpartsofasentence.

1. Location:at,on,in:Prepositionsdifferaccordingtothenumberofdimensionstheyreferto.Wecangroupthemintothreeclassesusingconceptsfromgeometry:point,surface,andarea/volume.a. Point:(at)Prepositionsinthisgroupindicatethatthenounthatfollowsthemistreatedasapointinrelationtowhichanotherobjectispositioned.

b. Surface:(on)Prepositionsinthisgroupindicatethatthepositionofanobjectisdefinedwithrespecttoasurfaceonwhichitrests.

c. Area/Volume:(in)Prepositionsinthisgroupindicatethatanobjectlieswithintheboundariesofanareaorwithintheconfinesofavolume.

2. Direction:to,on(to),in(to):Theseprepositionsexpressmovementtowardsomething.To,into,and ontocorrespondrespectivelytotheprepositionsoflocationat,in,and on.Eachpaircanbedefinedbythesamespatialrelationsofpoint,line/surface,orarea/volume.

3. Temporal relations:Prepositionsalsoexpresshowobjectsrelatetemporally.Prepositionscanexpressapointintimeoranextendedtime.a. On,at,andin areeachusedtoexpresssimilarrelationsastheirspatialcounterparts.

b. Since,by,for,andfrom-to areusedtoexpressextendedtime.

1. Wearrived____thehouse____theafternoon.

2. Thewaiterwas____ourtableimmediately.

3. Wehavenotseenourwaiter_____wearrived.

4. Thesoccerplayerleaped____theball.

5. Thetigerjumped_____myface.6. Thetigerjumped_____thetrap.7. Iwent____thestoretoday.

8.Alightappeared____thewindow.9. Thecattlewillgraze____theopen

range____thewholesummer.10.Threehockeyplayersare____the

ice.11.Thecowboyrode_____the

settingsun.12.Threeboxersare____thering.13. Theplayran_____

September____November.14. Thewaterspilled_____the

floor.

• For isapersonalandpersonallylimitingprepositionandexpressesaproprietaryrelationship.Also,for referstotemporalduration(ex:IwenttoEnglandfor twoweeks)andmotivation.

• To isaquantitative,directionalprepositionandshouldbeusedtoexplaintheimpersonalconnectionbetweenobjects.

1. For:a. “Speakformyself.”Herefor referstomotiveandispersonally

limitingandproprietary.Theemphasisisasfollows:“Ispeakonmyownbehalf;nooneelsedoesitforme.”

b. “Thisismyfirsttimefor avisit.”Thissentencelaysmorestressonthepersonalmotive forthevisit.Thisprepositionstressestherelationshipbetweenthevisitorandthevisitee.

2. To:“Speaktomyself.”Hereto explainsthedirectionoftheconversation.

3. Infinitives:“Thisismyfirsttimeto visit.”Tovisit isaninfinitivenotapreposition.Thissentencelaysstressontheaction ofthevisit.Anadverbcouldbeaddedtoinformthereaderofthespecifictypeofaction(personalvisit,professionalvisit...etc.).

1. (Direction)Iwent___thebanktodepositmycheck.

2. (Personal)Iamwaiting___theambulance.

3. (Motive)Johnleft___FrancewherehehopestostudyFrenchculture.

4. (Direction)Thomasisleavingtogo___Englandtomorrow.

5. (Motive)Thebookstoreclosed___convocation.

6. (Direction)Theclerklefttogo___thechapel.

7. (Motive)Theclerkleft___thechapel.

8. (Direction)Sallywantstogo___thelake.

9. (Personal)Johnspoke___himself.

10. (Direction)Johnspoke___himself.