T3: Daily Grammar Tool Sharpening
  • Grade 9
    • Unit 1: Vocabulary >
      • #1 Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms
      • #2 Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes
      • #3 Contractions
      • #4 Compound Words
      • #5 Connotation and Denotation
      • #6 Idioms
    • Unit 2: Parts of Speech >
      • Parts of Speech Grammar Review Game
    • Unit 3: Sentences >
      • Subjects and Predicates
      • Direct Objects
      • Indirect Objects
      • Subject Complements
      • Types of Sentences
      • Independent and Subordinate Clauses
      • #9 Commonly Confused Words
      • Sentence Fragments
      • Run-On Sentences
      • Comma Splice Errors
    • Unit 4: Punctuation >
      • Capitalization
      • End Punctuation
      • Commas
      • Quotation Marks
      • Punctuating Dialogue
      • Apostrophes
      • Dashes
      • Hyphens
      • Semicolons
      • Colons
      • Parentheses
      • Elipsis Points
  • Grade 10
    • Unit 1: Vocabulary >
      • #1 Greek and Latin Word Origins
      • #2 Prefixes & Suffixes
      • #3 Homophones
      • #4 Idioms
      • #5 Colloquialisms and Slang
      • #6 Connotation and Denotation
      • #7 Figurative Language
      • Lesson #8 Symbols
    • Unit 2: Parts of Speech >
      • Nouns
      • SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS
      • Verbs
      • Basic Verb Tenses
      • Subject-Verb Agreement
      • Active and Passive Voice
      • Pronouns and Antecedents
      • Lesson 8: Personal Pronouns
      • Lesson #9: Relative and Reflexive Pronouns
      • Lesson #10: Using Who/Whom
      • Lesson 11: Adjectives
      • Lesson 12: Comparing with Adjectives
      • Lesson 13: Adverbs
      • Lesson 14: Comparing with Adverbs
    • Unit 3: Sentences >
      • # 11 Identifying Types of Sentences
      • Natural Order and Inverted Order Sentences
      • Sentence Fragments
      • Run-On Sentences and Comma Splice Errors
    • Unit 4: Punctuation >
      • #1 Using Capital Letters
      • #2 Using End Punctuation
      • #3 Commas
      • #4 Punctuating Quotations
      • #5 Quotation Marks, Italics, and Underlining
      • #6 Apostrophes
      • #7 Dashes and Parentheses
      • #8 Hyphens
      • # 9 Semicolons and Colons
  • Grade 11
    • Unit 1: Vocabulary >
      • #1 Origins
      • #2 Morphemes
      • #3 Standard and Non-Standard English
      • #4 Canadian Spelling
      • #5 Denotation & Connotation
      • #6 Figurative Language
      • #7 Academic and Literary Vocabulary
      • #8 Clichés, Jargon, and Redundant Language
      • #9 Commonly Confused Words
    • Unit 2 >
      • Sentence Fragments
      • Run-On Sentences & Comma Splice Errors
    • Unit 3 >
      • Types of Sentences
    • Unit 4: Punctuation >
      • #1 Commas
      • #2 Punctuating Quotations
      • #3 Punctuating Titles
      • #4 Apostrophes
      • #5 Dashes and Parentheses
      • #6 Hyphens
      • #7 Semicolons & Colons
  • Grade 12
    • Unit 1: VOCABULARY >
      • Word Origins
      • Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
      • Standard and Non-Standard English
      • Canadian Spelling
      • Denotation and Connotation
      • Figurative Language
      • Clichés
      • Redundant Language
      • Commonly Confused Words
    • Unit 2: Parts of Speech >
      • Nouns
      • Verbs
      • Tenses
      • Verbals
      • Adjectives and Adverbs
      • Prepositions
      • Modifiers
      • Parallel Structure
    • Unit 3: Sentences >
      • Subject and Predicates >
        • Continued Simple Subjects and Predicates
        • Con't Compound Subjects and Predicates
      • Direct Objects
      • Indirect Objects
      • Subject Complement
      • Phrases and Clauses
      • Independent and Subordinate Clauses
      • Sentence Structure
      • Co-ordination and Subordination
      • Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Elements
      • Sentence Variety
      • Sentence Fragments
      • Run-on Sentences and Comma Splice Errors
    • Unit 4: Punctuation >
      • Comma
      • Semicolons and Colons
      • Parentheses and Dashes
      • Punctuating Quotations
      • Ellipses AND Square Brackets
      • Punctuating Titles
      • Apostrophes
      • Hyphens
  • Workplace/OLC
    • Unit 1: Vocabulary >
      • Lesson 1: Root Words
      • Lesson 2: Prefixes/Suffixes
      • Lesson 3: Synonyms/Antonyms
      • Lesson 4: Slang and Jargon
      • Lesson 5: Standard English
      • Lesson 6: Formal or Informal Language?
      • Lesson 7: Similes
      • Lesson 8: Metaphors
      • Lesson 9: Personification
      • Lesson 10: Borrowed Words
    • Unit 2 : Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation >
      • Lesson 1:Spelling
      • Lesson 2: End Punctuation
      • Lesson 3: Commas
      • Lesson 4: Colons and Semi Colons

Prepositions

Learning Goal: In this lesson, you will learn about prepositions and how to use prepositions (and prepositional phrases) to enhance your writing.
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A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between words or phrases in a sentence. Here are some common prepositions: 


Examples:    among   between  from   on   toward   at   by   in   over   under
                    around   during      into    to    through  of  with   within   behind
Spot the Preposition Practice Quiz
Common Prepositional Pitfalls:

Use the preposition between to refer to two people, groups, or things; use among to refer to more than two. 


Examples: Cathy used her GPS to calculate the distance between her house and the school.
                  The lottery grand prize will be distributed among six lucky players. 


Use different from in most instances. Use different than only to avoid awkward phrasing, especially when what follows is a clause.


Examples:  The movie is different from any other martial arts movie I've seen.
                  My painting turned out much different than I had expected.


If you are trying to speak or write formally, it is usually best to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition. 


Example:     Informal: Whom shall I give the message to?
                   Formal: To whom shall I give the message?


However, if following this rule makes the sentence sound more awkward, it is better to leave it or reword the sentence.


Example:      Awkward: This is the school to which I used to go
                    Reworded: That is the school I used to attend.
Pesky Prepositions - Practice Quiz 1
Pesky Prepositions - Practice Quiz 2
Pesky Prepositions - Practice Quiz 3

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begin with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, called the object of the preposition. Prepositional phrases usually act as adjective or adverbs in a sentence. 


The word the prepositional phrase modifies is called it antecedent. If the antecedent is a noun, the phrase is acting as an adjective. If the antecedent is a verb, the phrase is acting as an adverb.


Examples:       Tickets (antecedent) for the show (prep. phrase) are sold out.
                        I will go (antecedent) on holidays (prep. phrase) next week.
                       Tom starts (antecedent) his day at six (prep. phrase).


If you are looking to make your writing more concise, consider replacing subordinate clauses with prepositional phrases. 


Example:        Clause: Most students who are in my class are away this week.
                       Phrase: Most students in my class are away this week. 
Prepositional Phrases - Practice Quiz 1
Prepositional Phrases - Practice Quiz 2
Source:
Language Power J. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print
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