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Grammar Guide 9 - Prepositions


Myr

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Welcome to our ninth week examining Grammar.  This week, we are hopping on Prepositions.

Preposition - connects a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence to show the relationship between the two.  It often indicates position such as: above, below, over, under, or beneath.

total physical response alo7 english GIF by ALO7.com

Joey went up the stairs. ( up connects went and stairs) = verb and noun connected

Sally sat in the corner. (in connects Sally and corner) = two nouns connected

Ending Sentences with a Preposition

Most of us had this grammar rule smacked into our faces when we were children.  It is more frowned upon in formal writing, but it is still allowed.  More importantly for story writers, dialog often has sentences ending in prepositions.  For example: "Whom are you talking about?" or "Don't look so put upon!"

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Not Always What they Appear

Some prepositional words can be used in other parts of grammar.  The word alone does not a preposition make.

For example.  The pirate flag went up the pole.  (Up is a preposition here connecting went and pole)

The pirate flag was up.  (Up is an adjective here modifying flag)

Some Prepositions

There are many prepositions.  Here are a few:

Above, below, up, down, among, as, at, away, between, over, under, through, next, inside, outside, around, onto, unto, via, within, without, and aside.

  • References:
    • Kern, Jara. (2020). The Infographic Guide to Grammar. Adams Media
    • Venolia, Jan. (2001). Write Right! (4th ed.). Ten Speed Press
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Another part of speech that the nuns drilled into us with repetition.  Another memory triggered..... an entire class reciting a string of prepositions in a sing-songy cadence with the nun clapping her hands to the beat. 😆

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7 hours ago, JamesSavik said:

When I first looked at this, I thought it said propositions and got here ASAP.  😎

I won't tell you what I read at first glance but it rhymes with institution. Clearly I need more than grammar lessons. 

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To embarrass myself further, until this blog, if you would've asked me what prepositions are, in relation to grammar, I would've come up empty. Or, I might have asked, "did you mean predisposition?'

I need a nap and some better education. 

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32 minutes ago, Mrsgnomie said:

rhymes with institution.

Oh goodness... I'm getting scared of the day when we finally get to dangling participles...

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8 minutes ago, Myr said:

Oh goodness... I'm getting scared of the day when we finally get to dangling participles...

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37 minutes ago, Myr said:

Oh goodness... I'm getting scared of the day when we finally get to dangling participles...

 

27 minutes ago, Mrsgnomie said:

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The nuns would be soooooo disappointed. Sad Molly Shannon GIF by Gunpowder & Sky

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