Questions 1-9: Find the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Indicate the preposition and its object. We were traveling to Chicago. 2. Although it is a distance, we went by car. 3. By afternoon, it became very warm. 4. We stopped for lunch. 5. We chose a cool spot near a river. 6. The sun sparkled on the water. 7. Our lunch stop refreshed us for the long trip. 8. Finally we saw the skyline of Chicago. 9. We were happy at the first motel.

Prepositions are bolded and the objects are underlined.

1. We were traveling to Chicago.

2. Although it is a distance, we went by car.

3. By afternoon, it became very warm.

4. We stopped for lunch.

5. We chose a cool spot near a river.

6. The sun sparkled on the water.

7. Our lunch stop refreshed us for the long trip.

8. Finally we saw the skyline of Chicago.

9. We were happy at the first motel.

Common prepositions are about, after, at, before, behind, by, during, for, from, in, of, over, past, to, under, up, and with.

In order to choose your object, ask yourself questions:

1. Where are they going?

2. How did they go?

3. When did it get warm?

4. Why did they stop?

5. What was the spot near to?

6. Where did the sun sparkle?

7. What were they refreshed for?

8. Where did they see the skyline?

9. Where were they happy?

1. to (prep) Chicago (obj)

2. by (prep) car (obj)

3. By (prep) afternoon (obj)

4. for (prep) lunch (obj)

5. near (prep) river (obj)

6. on (prep) water (obj)

7. for (prep) trip (obj)

8. of (prep) Chicago (obj)

9. at (prep) motel (obj)

A preposition tells where one noun is in relation to another noun. It is always followed by a noun, which is the object of a preposition. One silly way to remember most prepositions is to think about a squirrel and a tree. A squirrel can go (through, on, under, in, off, to, by ...) the tree. There are a few prepositions that just need to be remembered such as for.