Skills / Ages 8 to 11 / Reading and writing
Identify a preposition
Spotting the small word that shows where something is, which way it moves, or when it happens, like under in "under the bed" or after in "after lunch."
Why it matters
The lesson this skill opens has your child draw a bracket around each prepositional phrase, from the preposition to the noun it points at. The bracket opens at the preposition, so your child has to see that small word first, even though most readers slide right past it.
What it looks like when your child can do it
- In "The cat hid under the porch," your child picks out under and says it tells where the cat hid.
- Your child notices that a preposition is followed by a noun or a word like me or them: behind the couch, with me, after dinner.
- Your child can drop different words into "The ball rolled ___ the table" and hear which ones fit.
How to teach it at the kitchen table
- 01
Show where with a toy and a box
Put a toy in a box, then on it, under it, beside it, behind it. Say each phrase as you go. Every word you changed is a preposition, and each one shows where the toy is compared to the box.
- 02
Add direction words and time words
Prepositions also show which way something moves, like into, across and through, and when something happens, like before, after and during. In "We ran across the yard after supper," across shows direction and after shows time.
- 03
Look for the noun that follows
A preposition starts a little phrase that ends on a noun or on a word like him, her, us or them. In "a note from Grandpa," the phrase is from Grandpa. If nothing like that follows, the word is probably doing a different job.
- 04
Try the gap trick
Leave a gap and read the sentence aloud with different words: "The dog ran ___ the fence." Along, around, past, toward, through. If a word fits and changes where the dog goes, it is a preposition.
You will need: A small toy · A box or a cup
Try it together
Try 1
Say: "The keys are on the table." Ask your child for the preposition and the noun after it.
Listen for On, followed by table. The phrase is on the table, and it tells where the keys are.
Try 2
Say: "We read a story before bed." Ask for the preposition and what it tells.
Listen for Before. It tells when we read, not where. The phrase is before bed.
Try 3
Say: "The squirrel ran across the road and up the tree." Ask how many prepositions there are.
Listen for Two, across and up. Each one is followed by its own noun, road and tree. Up is a preposition here because it points at the tree.
Try 4
Say: "The note is for you." Ask for the preposition.
Listen for For. It is followed by you, which is a pronoun rather than a noun, and that still counts.
Try 5
Say "Sit down," then "She walked down the stairs." Ask which down is a preposition.
Listen for The second one, because it points at the stairs and tells where she walked. In "Sit down" nothing follows, so down is doing a different job there. Words like up, down, in and out can work either way.
Watch for
- Words like up, down, in and out are prepositions only when a noun or pronoun follows. "Climb up the ladder" has one. "Look up" does not.
If it is not there yet
- Stay with the toy and the box for a few days. Move the toy and let your child say the phrase, then switch so your child moves it and you say it.
- Use only position words, such as in, on, under and behind, until those come quickly. Direction words and time words can come after.
A few days of this is normal, and it is time well spent. The lesson will still be there, and it will go faster.
Where this skill comes up
The Parts of Speech, Told by the Greek Myths · Lesson 20
Prepositional Phrases
Needs it because the bracket opens at the preposition, so the preposition has to be seen first.