English Grammar Masterplan
Lesson 19: Prepositions
Lesson Overview
Prepositions: We will be examining common
prepositions and their different usages.
Different Types of Prepositions: We will compare
prepositions of time, place and direction.
Prepositions
What are they?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship
between a noun or pronoun (the object of the
preposition) and other words in a sentence.
Prepositions are used to convey spatial, temporal,
and logical relationships.
Common Prepositions
In
He is sitting in the chair.
She lives in a small apartment.
The cat is hiding in the closet.
Common Prepositions
On
The book is on the table.
There's a stain on your shirt.
The plane is scheduled to land on time.
Common Prepositions
Under
The treasure is buried under the sand.
The dog sleeps under the bed.
The child is hiding under the slide.
Common Prepositions
Above
The painting is hanging above the fireplace.
The bird is flying above the clouds.
The temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Common Prepositions
Between
The book is between the two bookshelves.
He had to choose between the red and blue shirts.
She is torn between two choices.
Common Prepositions
Beside
I sat beside my friend during the movie.
She stood beside her sister in the photo.
There's a park beside the school.
Common Prepositions
With
He cooked dinner with fresh ingredients.
I like to eat my cereal with milk.
He ate pizza with extra cheese.
Common Prepositions
Behind
The car is parked behind the house.
The little girl is peeking behind her mum.
She hid behind the tree during the game.
Common Prepositions
After
We'll have dessert after dinner.
The movie starts after 7 PM.
We will meet after the meeting.
Common Prepositions
Before
Please arrive 10 minutes before the event.
Please complete your homework before class.
They met before they went to the party.
Functions of Prepositions
Showing Location
Prepositions can indicate where something is
located in relation to something else.
For example: in, on, under, above, beside, behind.
The cat is under the table.
Functions of Prepositions
Showing Time
Prepositions can also indicate when something
happens.
For example: after, before, during, since, until.
They will meet after the concert.
Functions of Prepositions
Indicating Direction
Prepositions can express the direction of
movement or action.
For example: to, into, onto, through, across.
The mouse ran into the box.
Functions of Prepositions
Expressing Relationships
Prepositions can convey various relationships
between elements in a sentence.
Such as possession (of), comparison (like), cause
and effect (because of).
He's good at math because of years of extra study.
Functions of Prepositions
Introducing Objects of Verbs
Prepositions often introduce the object of a verb.
For example: She walked to the park.
Prepositional Phrases
A preposition is typically followed by one or more
objects, which together form a prepositional
phrase.
For example, in the sentence "The book is on the
table," "on the table" is a prepositional phrase, with
"on" as the preposition and "the table" as its
object.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
● One common mistake is using the wrong
preposition in a sentence, which can change its
meaning.
● Sometimes, prepositions are omitted when they
are needed, leading to incomplete or unclear
sentences.
● Prepositions can also be overused, leading to
awkward or wordy sentences.
Practice
Find the following prepositions in the sentences…
● They walked across the bridge.
● She jumped into the pool.
● The cat is hiding behind the couch.
Practice
Find the following prepositions in the sentences…
● They walked across the bridge.
● She jumped into the pool.
● The cat is hiding behind the couch.
Practice
Can you fill in the blanks?
● The keys are __________ the kitchen counter.
● She always arrives at work five minutes __________
9 AM.
● The book is __________ the top shelf.
Practice
Can you fill in the blanks?
● The keys are on the kitchen counter.
● She always arrives at work five minutes before 9
AM.
● The book is on the top shelf.
See you next time!
