Simple Prepositions

Some prepositions are single words while others are groups of words such as across from, along with, apart from, by means of, etc. In order to recognize and memorize single-word prepositions, simple prepositions, we list them alphabetically here in four columns.

aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
alongside
amid
among
around
at
before
behind
below
beneath

beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
concerning
considering
despite
down
during
except
excepting
for
from
in

inside
into
like
near
of
off
on
onto
opposite
out
outside
over
past
regarding
round
save

since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
until
unto
up
upon
via
with
within
without

Object of a Preposition

A person, place, or thing always follows a preposition. We call this word the object of the preposition. 

Simple prepositions are underlined in the sentences below. Notice how they show the relationship between "went" and "fence."

  • The soccer ball went under the fence.
    Fence is the object of the preposition under.

  • The soccer ball went over the fence.
    Fence is the object of the preposition over.

Notice how these prepositions show the relationship between "find" and "islands."

  • Divers find abalone around islands.
    Fence is the object of the preposition over.
  • Divers find abalone near islands.
    Iislands is the object of the preposition near.

The following simple prepositions show the relationship between "protects" and "dictator."

  • Our Constitution protects us against a dictator.
    Dictator is the object of the preposition against.
  • Our Constitution protects us from a dictator.
    Dictator is the object of the preposition from.

Examples

Underline each preposition in sentences 1-12.

  1. Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
  2. Settlers in Massachusetts and throughout New England understood the importance of education.
  3. Barrett came from Martha's Vineyard with vivid descriptions of its beauty.
  4. A new form of government was finally begun in Mexico after the overthrow of Porfirio Diaz in 1911.
  5. The Spanish colonies in South America also struggled for independence.
  6. Simon Bolivar led the revolution against Spain in South America.
  7. Bolivar came from a wealthy Venezuelan family.
  8. White abalone are endangered throughout Southern and Baja California.
  9. Ninety-nine percent of abalone are eaten by predators during the larvae phase of development.
  10. All filter-feeding animals, from baleen whales to sea anemones, prey on white abalone.
  11. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes.
  12. After the American Revolution, people worried about this issue.

Solutions

  1. Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
  2. Settlers in Massachusetts and throughout New England understood the importance of education.
  3. Barrett came from Martha's Vineyard with vivid descriptions of its beauty
  4. A new form of government was finally begun in Mexico after the overthrow of Porfirio Diaz in 1911.
  5. The Spanish colonies in South America also struggled for independence.
  6. Simon Bolivar led the revolution against Spain in South America.
  7. Bolivar came from a wealthy Venezuelan family.
  8. White abalone are endangered throughout Southern and Baja California.
  9. Ninety-nine percent of abalone are eaten by predators during the larvae phase of development.
  10. All filter-feeding animals, from baleen whales to sea anemones, prey on white abalone.
  11. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes.
  12. After the American Revolution, people worried about this issue.