Identifying Prepositions

GOAL:
To recognize and correctly use prepositions in sentence construction.

Objectives:
The student will be able to:
1. Describe the grammatical function of prepositions.
2. Identify prepositions in simple sentences.
3. Use prepositions correctly in the construction of simple sentences.

Energy Objectives:
The student will be able to:
1. List advantages and disadvantages of wood heat.
2. Discuss the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Lesson Information:
A preposition is a part of speech (often called a function word) that is used to show the relationship of a noun or a noun equivalent (the object of the preposition) to some other word in the sentence. The underlined words in EXAMPLE 1 are prepositions.

EXAMPLE 1:
Wood used in the fireplace should be kept outside the home, perhaps along the wall with the fireplace.

Do your best to keep wood dry during the rainy season.

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In order to locate prepositions in a sentence, it is helpful to be familiar with the prepositions most commonly used. 
       about          beside         near           to
       above          besides        of             toward
       across         between        off            towards
       after          beyond         on             under
       against        by             onto           until
       along          during         out            up
       among          for            outside        upon
       around         from           over           with
       as             in             past           within    
       before         inside         since          without
       behind         into           through
       below          like           throughout

Activity D-1:
Circle all prepositions in the sentences below.

1. Wood is a renewable resource found in nature.

2. Wood is relatively inexpensive among the fuels.

3. Wood can be used with a variety of wood burning systems.

4. Wood is best utilized in late fall or during early spring on marginally cool days.

5. Newer models of wood stoves are more efficient and better for the environment.

When identifying prepositions, look for the entire prepositional phrase. The phrase usually begins with a preposition and ends with a noun. There may also be adjectives modifying the noun. See EXAMPLE 2.

EXAMPLE 2:
Wood heat may be used during wintertime.
Wood heat may be used during the winter months.
Wood heat may be used during the cold, dreary winter months.

Preposition = during
Nouns = wintertime, months
Adjectives = the, cold, dreary, winter

Activity D-2:
Underline the prepositional phrases in each sentence. Identify all parts of speech in the phrase. Use "P" for preposition, "A" for adjective, and "N" for noun.

1. The burning of wood as a fuel is called combustion.

2. There are three stages of combustion.

3. During the first stage, moisture evaporates from the wood.

4. Most of the gases burn off the wood during the second stage.

5. Towards the end of the third stage, charcoal remains and burns at a temperature exceeding 1100°F.

Use prepositional phrases in your writing to help identify time and location. See EXAMPLE 3.

EXAMPLE 3:
Fireplaces in the home are often not very efficient. The efficiency of the unit during cool weather can be improved with careful consideration of several factors. Close off the room with the fireplace. Locate the fireplace on an inside wall to conserve the heat. Fuel the fire with well- seasoned, dry wood. For greatest efficiency use a woodstove or fireplace insert to retain more heat in the home.

Activity R-1:
Write 5 sentences describing how your family's home is kept warm in the winter. Use at least one prepositional phrase in each sentence. Circle any prepositional phrase that identifies time and location.

     1.   _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

     2.   _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

     3.   _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

     4.   _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

     5.   _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

Activity R-2:
Look back over your sentences in Activity R-1. Identify each part of speech in all prepositional phrases using a "P" for preposition, an "A" for adjective, and an "N" for noun.

Recommended Reading:
Wood Heat, Pub. No. 2034. Cooperative Extension Service, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 1982.

INFORMATION CHECK
1. Define preposition.



2. Describe the basic prepositional phrase.



3. What kind of information is usually contained in a prepositional phrase?



4. Try to recall as many prepositions as possible without looking back at the first page of this lesson. Use this little hint to help you.

Where did the leaves fall? (preposition) the tree





5. Write a short summary of this lesson's information on wood as a fuel source. Is wood generally considered an efficient fuel source?





TEACHER'S NOTES
Activity D-1:
1. in
2. among
3. with, of
4. in, during, on
5. of, for

Activity D-2:
1. of (P)wood (N)
as (P) a (A) fuel (N)

2. of (P) combustion (N)

3. during (P) the (A) first (A) stage (N)
from (P) the (A) wood (N)

4. of (P) the (A) gases (N)
off (P) the (A) wood (N)
during (P) the (A) second (A) stage (N)

5. towards (P) the (A) end (N)
of (P) the (A) third (A) stage (N)
at (P) a (A) temperature (N)

Activity R-1, R-2:
Check students's sentences for the following:
Complete sentences.
Contain circled prepositional phrases.
Parts of speech identified.
Sentences relate to home heating practices.

Answers to Information Check:
1. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between an object (a noun) and the rest of the sentence.

2. The preposition plus the noun, plus any included modifiers is called the prepositional phrase.

3. Prepositional phrases usually describe locations. Some prepositions are also used to denote time relationships.

4.
       about          beside         near           to
       above          besides        of             toward
       across         between        off            towards
       after          beyond         on             under
       against        by             onto           until
       along          during         out            up
       among          for            outside        upon
       around         from           over           with
       as             in             past           within    
       before         inside         since          without
       behind         into           through
       below          like           throughout

5. Check student paragraphs for correctness of information. The student should state that wood heat is usually not a very efficient fuel choice.

Comments or questions to: TechAsmt@LA.GOV

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