day 31: prepositions that begin with vowels plus B

Many prepositions begin with the same letter. As a matter of fact, some handbooks list as many as fifty prepositions that begin with the letter A alone (though I think that is a stretch). The vowels A, I, O, and U are all fairly popular initial letters for prepositions, as is the letter B.

With or without your little toy and tissue tube from earlier in the week, try to write as many prepositions as you can think of that begin with the letters given below. Then join us tomorrow to see the many A, I, O, U, and B prepositions that fit into our “Birdie sentence.”

A—Birdie flew around the tube….

B—Birdie flew behind the tube…

I—Birdie flew inside the tube….

O—Birdie flew over the tube….

U—Birdie flew under the tube…

P.S. Don’t forget WHY you learn prepositions! See the links below for reminders.

http://languagelady365.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-22-homework-help-why-learn.html

http://languagelady365.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-23-homework-helpmore-why-learn.html

day 30: prepositions—the girl prayed _________________ the service

The other primary use for prepositions, in addition to “position,” is time. Prepositions show the relationship of one item to another as related to time—after, before, during, etc. This is where our second Preposition-Check Sentence comes into play:

The girl prayed ____________________ the service.

Obviously, there are not fifty to seventy prepositions that fit neatly into this check sentence, simply because there are not fifty to seventy time prepositions like there are position prepositions. However, for those more challenging “time” prepositions, this check sentence comes in handy.

“Test” this “Preposition-Check Sentence” with the time prepositions (plus some others that fit just because they fit) given below. Some of them might be a stretch to fit in, but for the most part, I think you will find this helpful for the “less than obvious” prepositions.

The girl prayed ________________ the services.

About

According to

After

Amid

Amidst

Among

amongst

Along with

Apart from

Around

At

Away from

Because

Before

Behind

Between

By means of

Close to

Concerning

Considering

Despite

Due to

During

Following

In between

In regards to

In accordance with

In lieu of

In coordination with

In connection with

Involving

Including

On account of

On behalf of

Out of

Over

Prior to

Pursuant to

Regardless of

Until

Via

With regards

With regard to

With respect to

Within

Through

Throughout

Until

day 29: prepositions—the angel flew ______________ the clouds--answers

Try the rest of the prepositions listed below in the “position” Preposition-Check Sentence:

The angel flew _______________ the clouds.

Aboard

About

Above

Across

Across from

After

Against
 
Ahead of

Along

Alongside

Alongside of

Along with

Amid

Amidst

Among

Amongst

Around

As far as

Aside

Aside of

Aside from

Astride

Atop

Atop of

Away from

Before

Behind

Below

Beneath

Beside

Beside of

Between

Betwixt

Beyond

By

By means of

Close to

Down

Far from

Following

From

In

In addition to

Inside of

In between

In place of

In front of

In addition to

In back of

Into

Like

Minus

Near

Near to

Next to

Off

Off of

Off the top of

On

Onto

On top

On top of

Opposite

Opposite of

Out

Out from

Out of

Outside

Outside of

Over

Past

Round

Through

Throughout

To

Towards

Under

Underneath

Unto

Up

Up to

Upon

Via

With

Within

Without

day 28: prepositions—the angel flew _________ the clouds

For older students, those who are not as dependent on object lessons with concrete objects (such as the bathroom tissue tube and Birdie from the previous few posts), we use two “Preposition-Check Sentences” to teach prepositions. The first one, which we will focus on today, involves physical space (Think “Prepositions show position”). The latter, which we will focus on in a couple of days, involves time (another use for prepositions).

Our first “Preposition-Check Sentence” goes like this:

The angel flew ___________________ the clouds.

Similar to the bathroom tissue tube and Birdie (without the physical objects in hand), this check sentence actually “fits” with about ninety percent of the “position” prepositions. It is a valuable tool for learning and memorizing dozens of prepositions. So, which prepositions fit into our “angel” sentence?

Try the following in the Preposition-Check Sentence, and you will see how simple learning prepositions can be.

The angel flew aboard the clouds.

The angel flew about the clouds.

The angel flew above the clouds.

The angel flew across the clouds.

The angel flew across from the clouds.

See how many prepositions you can think of with this “Preposition-Check Sentence.” Answers will follow tomorrow! Smile…

day 27: prepositions with the ppp (“preposition practice pal”)

Yesterday I introduced our PPP (“Preposition Practice Pal”) and how we teach elementary and middle school students to recognize “position” prepositions. Today, see for yourself all of the many prepositions that will work with the PPP!

Birdie flew _________________ the tube.

Aboard the tube, about the tube, above the tube, around the tube….etc.

Aboard

About

Above

Across

Across from

After

Against
 
Ahead of

Along

Alongside

Alongside of

Along with

Amid

Amidst

Among

Amongst

Around

Aside

Aside of

Aside from

Astride

Atop

Atop of

Away from

Before

Behind

Below

Beneath

Beside

Beside of

Between

Betwixt

Beyond

By

Down

Following

From

In

Inside of

In between

In place of

In front of

In addition to

In back of

Into

Like

Minus

Near

Next to

Off

Off of

Off the top of

On

Onto

On top

On top of

Opposite

Opposite of

Out

Out of

Outside

Outside of

Over

Past

Round

Through

Throughout

To

Towards

Under

Underneath

Unto

Up

Up to

Upon

Via

With

Within

Without

day 25: “preposition practice pal”

When it comes to little kids (second through fifth grade) learning prepositions, I have found that it is helpful to teach them prepositions in a way that emphasizes what prepositions are for and how they are used. (Again, memorizing is fine, but if they can learn them and at the same time learn about using them, that’s even better!)

One way that we begin teaching kids prepositions is by teaching them how to “show position”—since that is what prepositions do.

We begin with the concept that “prepositions show position”! Once they learn that rhyme, we have them practice prepositions with a “Preposition Practice Pal” (PPP) and a bathroom tissue tube.

A PPP can be an army man, Polly Pocket, Lego guy, or any little toy animal or person. The student uses that little PPP and the bathroom tissue tube to show position of the PPP to the tube—and thus to practice prepositions.

Consider if my PPP were Birdie (though it could be Polly, Kitty, Joe, Superman, etc.), and I held it up in relation to my bathroom tissue tube. See how many prepositions fit in the sentence using the two objects:

Birdie flew _________________ the tube.

Practice prepositions with the PPP and bathroom tissue tube—and see how many prepositions you can name. Tomorrow I will give you a list of prepositions that fit with Birdie! J

Note: If you are stuck, think Birdie flew above the tube; Birdie flew around the tube…get creative with your PPP and tube! It helps to actually move your PPP in positions with your bathroom tissue tube.

day 24: prepositions list

Today I will give you a preposition list. Many grammar and language arts programs have students memorize prepositions in alphabetical order, assuming this is the most advantageous way to learn them. I am not opposed to that entirely; however, whenever possible, I prefer memorization techniques in grammar that will help the student also know the purpose for the word or part of speech. (This isn’t always possible, I know. But with prepositions there are some simple memory tricks that can help students not only learn prepositions but also learn the reason for them/how to use them. Those will follow in the coming days.)

Today I will give you an incomplete preposition list (since there is no such thing as a complete preposition list!). In days to come, these will be divided to aid in retention.

Aboard

About

Above

Across

Across from

After

Against

Ahead

Ahead of

Along

Alongside

Alongside of

Along with

Amid

Amidst

Among

Amongst

Anti

Around

As

Aside

Aside of

Aside from

Astride

At

Atop

Atop of

Away

Away from

Barring

Before

Behind

Below

Beneath

Beside

Beside of

Besides

Between

Betwixt

Beyond

By

By means of

Circa
Concerning

Considering

Despite

Down

During

Except

Except for

Excepting

Excluding

Following

For

From

In

Inside of

In between

In spite of

In regards to

In case of

In place of

In front of

In addition to

In back of

In accordance with

Into

Like

Minus

Near

Next to

Notwithstanding

Of

Off

Off of

Off the top of

On

Onto

On top

On top of

Opposite

Opposite of

Out

Out of

Outside

Outside of

Over

Past

Per

Plus

Regarding

Round

Save

Since

Than

Through

Throughout

Till

To

Towards

Under

Underneath

Unlike

Until

Unto

Up

Up to

Upon

Versus

Via

With

With regards to

Within

Without

See the last two days of posts to learn more about why someone should learn prepositions!