Finding out about
WORDS

Prepositions

Well that's the big word for them
linking words
will do.

So what's the point.

They are really useful words for adding detail to your descriptions.

Let's try one or two.

 

A simple sentence

The lion wanted to fly.

is transformed into

The Lion wanted to fly beside the elephant.

(You've all heard of Dumbo?)

Try another

Dad picked up the car.

becomes

Dad picked up the car despite the weight.

 

beside the elephant

despite the weight

are prepositional phrases.

 

A phrase?

A group of words that can't stand on their own.

 

The other interesting thing is that sometimes you can change the order of the sentence to good effect.

 

Beside the elephant, the Lion wanted to fly. ( Doesn't quite work)

But

Despite the weight, Dad picked up the car. (Does)

Notice too the comma.

 

 

Prepositions can be categorized.

Time Prepositions

during the film, since the war, until teatime, till evening, on time.

Place Prepositions

underneath the window, inside the cave, within the house, below the wall, beside the stream, behind the tree, near the circus tent.

Direction Prepositions

to the north, over there, up to the right, through the window, around the corner.

Logic Prepositions

despite the weight, except the milk.

 

But the two most important things are:

1. to use a wider variety of prepositions or linking words in your writing.

2. to try changing the order of your sentences for effect, in your own writing.

 

Try this example of linking ideas together.

 

"Now this is what you do in the obstacle race, children. Are you listening carefully? First you run towards the bath of jelly, then you jump into it, wade across it and climb out of the bath at the other side. Then you run to the string of sausages, and skip over them twenty seven times. Next you climb up the twenty foot pole, ride carefully along the tightrope on a unicycle, and abseil down the rope at the other end. After that you balance the bowl of tomato soup on top of your head, climb over the live alligator, and creep under the baby elephant, between its back legs. Then all you have to do is run backwards to the finishing line, carrying me. If anyone gets there, they win."

"No chance, Miss! You're much to heavy."

 

 

 

Can you find all the prepositions in this piece of writing. Make a list. The write your own obstacle course using the same list of prepositions and add three more.

 

Click here for the answer.