Question

What is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence?

• A. Conjunction
• B. Interjection
• C. Preposition
• D. Verb

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Preposition

Preposition: A Key Grammatical Connector

A preposition is a word that typically precedes a noun or a pronoun, establishing a relationship between it and another element within the sentence. This relationship often indicates location, direction, time, or manner.

Common Functions of Prepositions:

• Showing Location: Words like in, on, under, behind, beside, and between specify where something is. For example, "The book is on the table."
• Indicating Direction: Prepositions such as to, from, into, out of, and through denote movement or direction. Example: "She walked to the store."
• Expressing Time: Words like at, in, on, before, after, and during relate to time. Example: "We will meet at noon."
• Denoting Manner or Means: Prepositions like by, with, and through can show how something is done. Example: "He traveled by train."

Structure of a Prepositional Phrase:

A preposition is almost always followed by a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. Together, the preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase. This phrase functions as an adjective or an adverb in the sentence.

• Example: "The gift for you is on the desk." (Here, 'for' is the preposition, 'you' is the object, and 'for you' is the prepositional phrase acting as an adjective modifying 'gift'.)

Exam-Relevant Facts:

• Distinguishing from Adverbs: Some words can function as both prepositions and adverbs (e.g., in, out, up, down). The key difference is whether they are followed by an object. If a word like 'up' is not followed by a noun or pronoun, it is likely an adverb. Example: "He looked up." (adverb) vs. "He looked up the chimney." (preposition).
• Common Errors: Pay attention to commonly confused prepositions like 'between' (used for two items) and 'among' (used for three or more items).
• Phrasal Verbs: Many verbs combine with prepositions to create phrasal verbs (e.g., look up, give up, turn on). Understanding prepositions is crucial for interpreting the meaning of these verb phrases.