How to Explain Prepositions

Since there is so much information for students to take in when they are mastering the parts of speech, grammar lessons can lead to bored or disengaged students. If you involve the students in your explanation of prepositions from the beginning, they will be engaged and learn more quickly. Read on to learn how to explain prepositions.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Define prepositions for the class. Prepositions locate nouns in time and space, and may be a single word or a short phrase (such as "in front of").

2. Ask the class to identify prepositions and create a list of their suggestions on the board. If someone identifies another part of speech as a preposition, write it to the side, letting the class know that it is not a preposition.

3. Work with the words that aren't prepositions. Ask students to tell you why they might seem to be prepositions to help reinforce the definition of prepositions and clear up any misunderstandings.

4. Turn to the student-generated list of prepositions. Discuss how each one meets the definition of a preposition. Briefly show how to create a prepositional phrase from a preposition, optional modifiers and a noun. Show students that some prepositions may function as subordinate conjunctions when followed by a subject and verb. Also point out that prepositions can introduce objects of certain verbs.

5. Put students in pairs or small groups and have them write a few sentences without using any prepositions.

6. Have each group or pair read at least one of their sentences. Ask the class to point out prepositions if they're used. After all sentences have been shared, discuss what content is missing from the sentences.

7. Encourage students to review their sentences, now adding prepositions. Help the groups or pairs understand how to use individual prepositions if they have questions.

8. Use the student examples to illustrate the rules for prepositions as well as common errors in preposition use. The students can write the sentences on the board or simply read them aloud.

Tips & Warnings

• Get students started with a few prepositions if they have problems generating some. Add prepositions to the student-generated list if major prepositions are missing.

• Having students first write sentences without prepositions helps students better understand the function of prepositions and leads to more reflection about the words they choose.

• Collect the sentences at the end of class to provide individualized feedback on the students' use of prepositions.