Prepositions and conjunctions

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 3 to 6 · English

Prepositions and conjunctions: I can spot prepositions and preposition phrases, and choose the right conjunction.

1. A preposition is a word that tells us where, when or why something happens.

   Under is a preposition. It tells us where the cat slept: under the chair.

   Picture: The sentence "The cat slept under the chair.", with "under" labelled preposition.

2. Prepositions can tell us where, when or why. Watch where each phrase goes.

   Under the chair and in the garden tell us where.

   After lunch and during the night tell us when.

   Because of the rain tells us why. Because of is a preposition too.

   Picture: Sorting into 3 groups: Where?, When?, Why?. Where?: under the chair (chair), in the garden (flower). When?: after lunch (clock), during the night (moon). Why?: because of the rain (raindrop).

3. Look at the cat sentence again. Which word is the preposition?

   Under is the preposition. The words after it, the chair, tell us under what.

   Together they make a preposition phrase: under the chair. It starts with the preposition.

   A preposition phrase is the preposition plus the words that follow it.

   Picture: The sentence "The cat slept under the chair.", with "under" labelled preposition and "under", "the" and "chair" underlined.

4. Your turn: Tap the preposition. It tells us where Mei put the book.

   Picture: The sentence "Mei put the book on the shelf."

   Tap the right word.

   Answer

   The answer: on

   On is the preposition. It tells us where the book went: on the shelf.

   Picture: The sentence "Mei put the book on the shelf.", with "on" labelled preposition and "on", "the" and "shelf" underlined.

Words to know

preposition:

A word that tells us where, when or why, like under, after or because of.

preposition phrase:

A preposition and the words after it, like under the chair.

conjunction:

A joining word that links two parts of a sentence.

clause:

A group of words with a verb in it.

co-ordinating:

And, but and or. They join two equal parts that could each stand alone.

subordinating:

When, because, while, before, after. They start a part that cannot stand alone.