Lesson: This Lesson is Our Preposition Proposition

In these modern times of smartphones and textspeak, many students are developing some bad habits when it comes to grammar. As teachers, we know you’re giving your all to undo this trend and we can’t commend you enough. We’d like to help you in your efforts by sharing with you some resources to help with teaching prepositions and their proper use. These resources include high quality web pages, an informative infographic, and two preposition-centric videos.

Webpage to Examine in Class:

ChompChomp.com: Grammar Bytes! The Preposition

ChompChomp.com, aka Grammar Bytes, is a website that refers to its content as “grammar instruction with attitude.” It provides a wide variety of grammar instruction resources, including explanation of terms, worksheet handouts, YouTube videos, a guide for grammar tips and rules, videos designed for projector presentation, and a solid covering of nearly every topic under the grammar rainbow. Today, we’ll be focusing on their page about teaching prepositions.

This page cuts right to the chase and immediately presents an illustration of prepositions used to indicate location. This is done by way of showing an enthusiastic looking Pug being on the floor, in the garbage can, and beside the phone.  Directly after this, time-based prepositions are introduced. Below this, a table containing an exhaustive list of 75 prepositions in the English language. It then transitions rapidly to instruction on the definition of a prepositional phrase and how to form one. Once this data has been imparted, the page warns the reader that prepositions can sometimes function as subordinate conjunctions and compares them to prepositional phrases. The method of this is then explained and the page comes to an end.

This page is a quick read, though it packs a powerful punch of information with each rapidly-presented paragraph. It can function as an ideal resource for many grade levels, but would likely be best for grades 7-10.

Webpage to Examine in Class:

EnglishGrammarRevolution.com: What is a Preposition?

One of the greatest things about English Grammar Revolution is that Elizabeth O’Brien, its creator, is a teacher herself who learned to love grammar through loathing it. After having great difficulty teaching grammar and sentence structure, she took an English course that focused heavily on sentence diagramming and then everything clicked. It’s now her personal mission to help others who struggle with grammar at all ends of the learning spectrum.

This website is a highly visual one and, like its author, puts a heavy emphasis on sentence diagramming. However, it is done in a very clear, concise, and at times humorous way that prevents boredom and keeps interest primed. Without one targeted demographic, the lessons on this site work for students as young as 10 years old up through adults who are learning English as a second language.

The What is a Preposition page details how prepositions are used to indicate time, location, direction, and to introduce the subject of a sentence. The first thing a reader will see is a picture of an apple with a caterpillar populating nearly every inch of it. For each place the caterpillar takes, a prepositional phrase is used to describe its location. After this, a concise yet solid definition of preposition is offered.

Once the definition is given, the sentence diagramming begins. Fun and easy-to-follow diagrams are then presented regarding prepositional phrases and prepositional phrases as adverbs and adjectives. An explanation is given as to the nature of each and this is followed by a thorough discussion of the concept of the difference between prepositions and adverbs. The page concludes by linking to another resource within the site filled with additional grammar instruction.

Grammar.net – Preposition of Direction Chart

[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

Grammar.net is a website operated by a young language teacher. Identifying herself strictly on a first name basis as Mila, the author of the site explains that she both speaks and teaches 5 different languages and does her best to keep the drudgery out of grammar lessons. She does this very successfully by way of putting together many infographics that are informative, easy to understand, and visually engaging. Her 14 Things to Keep in Mind with Prepositions infographic consists of several examples of prepositions in the English language and how they work.

Commonly confused prepositions such as at, about, in, to, on, for, in, since, around, and up to are included, along with advice on how to best use them. Examples are also provided of sentences using the imperative mood (command) which do not require prepositions.

Video Resources

1. What are Prepositions?

Source: Socratica  

Grade Level: 9-12

Run Time: 3:54

Description: This video comes courtesy of Socratica, a website that is always good for solid grammar tips and a bit of wry humor. This particular video places emphasis on how prepositions are used to show relationships and how they help to place nouns and pronouns in proper context. Explanations are given on when to use prepositions and how prepositional phrases work. In the process, some grammar-based myths are debunked.

2. Prepositional Phrases and Prepositions Song

Source: The Grammarheads

Grade Level: 4-6

Run Time: 3:46

Description: This is a video in which a lesson on prepositions is set to music. Most appropriate for elementary school and early middle school students, this video gives some simple explanations as to where and how prepositions can be used. Topics such as noun placement and prepositions acting as adverbs and adjectives are explored.

Reinforcement Exercises

Elementary School Students

Have your students write down as many prepositions as they can think of in one minute. The student who successfully cites the most prepositions may be awarded three extra credit points on the class’s next English/language arts test.

Middle School Students

This exercise consists of having the students write 15 sentences containing prepositions. Five sentences should be written for each of the following: prepositions of time, prepositions of location/position, and prepositions that introduce a subject.

High School Students

Engage your students in sentence diagramming. Provide a worksheet containing 20 sentences for which students must identify the prepositions, subjects, adverbs, and adjectives.

If you can think of any additional preposition exercises and/or resources that you feel would be of constructive use, please share them in the comments below.