RIC-20234 Primary Grammar and Word Study Year 3 – Parts of Speech

Parts of speech
Prepositions
Focus
Prepositions: movement, direction, time and place
Definition
• Prepositions are words used to show the relationship
between nouns and/or pronouns in the same sentence.
Example:
The steam engine powered through the dark tunnel.
Explanation
• The word ‘preposition’ combines the prefix ‘pre’ (meaning
‘before’ or ‘in front of’) and the word ‘position’. This
indicates the nature of prepositions, as words that are
‘positioned in front’ of nouns or other words that function
as nouns (such as pronouns or noun phrases).
• Prepositions indicate a connection between things
mentioned in a sentence, such as between a person and
where she/he is going.
Example:
Jill moved towards the table.
Prepositions can refer to manner (he came by bus), time
(school starts at 9 am), place (he left his shoes at the park),
position (the cat lay under the table) and direction (it ran
between the buildings).
Some prepositions are formed by combining words, such
as the phrases in front of, on top of and prior to.
• Prepositions are often used to introduce phrases that
add more information to the noun or verb and are called
prepositional phrases. These phrases start with a
preposition and end with a noun or noun equivalent, called
the ‘object’ of the preposition. Words that modify the object
are part of the phrase.
Example:
The little girl (subject) was shorter than (preposition)
her younger brother (object). (The prepositional
phrase is underlined.)
• As a rule, prepositions do not come before verbs.
• A former rule with prepositions was that they should never
end a sentence. This rule no longer applies. For example,
It is commonly accepted as correct to say ‘Have you found
the shoes you were looking for?’ rather than the Old English,
‘Have you found the shoes for which you were looking?’
• Prepositions add meaning and information. They also help
to distinguish between the object and the subject in a
sentence. Commonly used prepositions include:
about, above, across, after, against, around, at, before,
behind, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, for, from,
in, inside, near, off, on, out, over, through, to, toward,
under, until, upon and with
Bear in mind that these words are not always prepositions;
sometimes they function as conjunctions or adverbs.
For example, in the sentence ‘Mia decided to stay inside’,
‘inside’ has no object and so is an adverb.
Worksheet information
• Although prepositions can refer to things other than
position, the focus at this level remains on position and
location. As an introduction, perhaps place a number of
students in front of the class and discuss their positions
in relation to each other; e.g. Sarah is between Jacob and
Mara, Poppy is in front of Ben and behind Kiera. Focus on
the prepositions linking two nouns.
• Give each student a copy of the worksheet and read
the introductory text. Ask the students to identify some
prepositions. Students then complete Question 1 by circling
the prepositions. They can draw a scene for the front of
the postcard based on the description. To complete the
worksheet, students write a description of a place they
have been to on holiday, using as many prepositions as
they can.
Ideas for further practice
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• Give students an outline of a house. Instruct them to draw
something in, on, above, below, next to etc. the house.
Students share and describe their pictures with others in
the class.
• Students can choose one preposition and a specified
person or animal and draw an illustration showing both.
These can be compiled as a class book.
Answers
1. Prepositions: at, up, between, with, On, behind, near, to,
of, Below, down, with
2.–3. Teacher check
Primary grammar and word study 32
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