Parts of Speech · Today with Li'l Pete

Pre-Positioned for Greatness

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I'm Li'l Pete, and I place your things in space, in time, or in a logical relationship. Grab your map, and let's hit the trail.

Meet the Prepositions!

A preposition shows the relationship between its object, a noun or pronoun, and the rest of the sentence. It comes at the front of a prepositional phrase and points to that object. It can locate the object in space (where), in time (when), or show a logical relationship (how it connects).

One preposition tells where, and one tells when. Each one points to its own object.

We're going to the store in the mall.

The mail will come on Friday.

Telling Where and When

Telling WHERE (space)

A space preposition locates the object somewhere; it tells the exact spot.

Have you looked under the bed?

Telling WHEN (time)

A time preposition puts the object on the clock; it tells the exact moment.

The mail will come on Friday.

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Now you try

A preposition can point to when something happens, not just where. You could try before or after. Place it on the timeline.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with the object of the preposition. The structure is: PREPOSITION + OBJECT. Examples: next to the couch, outside the teachers' lounge, at the exact time, in my wallet, with the blue collar.

In a sentence

Each phrase starts with the preposition and ends with its object, the noun or pronoun it points to.

Pete looked out the window.

The biggest kid in my class is named Curtis.

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Now you try

A preposition opens the phrase, then the object finishes it. You could try against, beside, or near. Lead, and the object follows.