1PREPOSITIONSPrepositions are words which begin prepositional phrases.A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition, a noun or pronoun object of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object.A preposition sits in front of (is “pre-positioned” before) its object.The following words are the most commonly used prepositions:about below excepting off towardabove beneath for on underacross beside(s) from onto underneathafter between in out untilagainst beyond in front of outside upalong but inside over uponamong by in spite of past up toaround concerning instead of regarding withat despite into since withinbecause of down like through withoutbefore during near throughout with regard tobehind except of to with respect to2It is useful to locate prepositional phrases in sentences since any noun or pronoun within the prepositional phrase must be the prepositions object and, therefore, cannot be misidentified as a verbs direct object.To the store is a prepositional phrase.Store is the object of the preposition to, not the direct object of the verb drove.3Car is the direct object of the verb drove.To the grocery store is a prepositional phrase.NOTE:A word that looks like a preposition but is actually part of a verb is called a particle.Held up is a verb meaning “to rob.”Therefore, up is not a preposition, and bank is not the object of a preposition.Instead, bank is the direct object of the verb held up.To avoid confusing prepositions with particles, test by moving the word (up) and words following it to the front of the sentence:Up the bank four armed men held.4If the resulting sentence does not make sense, then the word belongs with the verb and is a particle, not a preposition.Note the difference:The resulting sentence makes sense. Therefore, up is a preposition.The resulting sentence does not make sense. Therefore, up is a particle in this sentence. The following examples illustrate the difference between prepositions and particles:Some other examples of particles:5give in turn in pull through wore out broke upgo in for put in for bring up found out blow uplook up make up look over