day 36: prepositions that are synonyms

by | Feb 8, 2011

We have already learned prepositions that are antonyms (opposite). Now for our last day of preposition work, we will learn prepositions that are synonyms (meaning the same or almost the same).
First a little mnemonic for antonyms and opposites!
Antonyms—Opposite (both begin with vowel sounds—ant—opp)
Synonyms—Same (both begin with S—syn—same)
When you consider that prepositions show position, it makes sense that if you know one preposition that means a certain direction (i.e. over), then other words that mean the same thing may also be prepositions (above, on top of, etc.).
Consider these prepositions that might be considered synonyms—if you know one from each list, you are likely to be able to think of the others:
1. aboard
            a. on
            b. atop
            c. atop of
            d. astride
2. about
    1. amid
    2. amidst
    3. among
    4. amongst
    5. around
    6. by
    7. near
    8. next to
    9. round
  1. above
    1. atop
    2. atop of
    3. on
    4. on top of
    5. over
    6. up
    7. upon
  1. Against
    1. anti
    2. barring
    3. despite
    4. in spite of
    5. opposite of
  2. Ahead
    1. ahead of
    2. before
    3. in front
    4. in front of
  3. Along
    1. about
    2. alongside
    3. alongside of
    4. Along with
    5. Amid
    6. Amidst
    7. Among
    8. Amongst
    9. At
    10. Beside
    11. Besides
    12. Round
    13. Close
    14. Close to
    15. By means of
    16. Near to
    17. Next to
  4. amid/amidst
    1. about
    2. against
    3. among
    4. amongst
    5. around
    6. at
    7. beside
    8. beside of
    9. by
    10. next to
    11. round
    12. through
    13. throughout
  5. anti
    1. across from
    2. against
    3. barring
    4. opposite
    5. opposite of
    6. versus
  6. around
    1. about
    2. amid
    3. amidst
    4. among
    5. amongst
    6. aside
    7. aside of
    8. circa
  7. aside
    1. along
    2. alongside
    3. alongside
    4. aside of
    5. beside
    6. beside of
    7. by
    8. next
    9. next to
    10. close to
    11. near to
  8. astride
    1. a. atop
    2. atop of
    3. on
    4. on top of
    5. over
    6. up
    7. upon
  9. at
    1. beside
    2. beside of
    3.  by
    4. toward
    5. close to
  10. barring
    1. anti
    2. opposite
    3. opposite of
    4. outside
    5. outside of
    6. due to
    7. except for
    8. save
  11. before
    1. ahead
    2. ahead of
    3. in front of
  12. behind
    1. beyond
    2. following
    3. in back
    4. in back of
The purpose behind the “synonym prepositions” is two-fold: (1) help students realize that if a word is a preposition (and they know that one), then more than likely other words that mean the same thing and fit in the same space are probably prepositions as well; (2) to help students think of even more prepositions—that they might not realize they know. Again, if a student learns to recognize prepositions well, he will recognize prepositional phrases well and will be able to isolate them (mentally, at least) in his sentences to achieve correct subject-verb agreement. (Also, it will help in using prepositional phrase openers in sentences  and punctuating them correctly.)

day 35: prepositions then and than

by | Feb 6, 2011

We are almost finished with our preposition study–just in time to start tackling our sentence month of February! I thought I would address the prepositions then and than since they are both used as prepositions (at times–more on that in our “sentence study”!)–and since they are commonly confused with each other.

Then
1. Means “next”
2. Used as a preposition: She is getting pizza first, then pop.
3. You will always use the correct then and than if you substitute “next” in your questionable spot–and if it fits, use “then”: He is coming here then going to town. (Say–he is coming here next going to town–is that the use you meant–the one that shows chronology? If so, you need then.)
4. Remember thEn has an E and nExt has an e.

Than
1. Means to compare
2. Used as a preposition: I would rather have pizza than tacos.
3. Only use than when you want to make a comparison.

“Tricky Trick to Help It Stick”:

Substitute NEXT–if it almost fits (i.e. you are trying to show chronology), use THEN.

day 34: two or more word prepositions

by | Feb 5, 2011

You have probably already noticed that many prepositions are made up of other words. That is, they have one preposition at the beginning and are followed by another preposition. Or they are compound words (like within).
This is another way to learn prepositions—by learning prepositions that are made up of two or more words.
For example, read the prepositions below—the first one of each set is a common preposition that you probably already know. The one(s) beneath that one is a preposition (or more) that is made from the top one.
  1. across
      *across from
  2. ahead
      *ahead of
  3. away
      *away from
  4. in
      a. into
      b. inside
      c. inside of
  5. on
      a. onto
      b. on top of
  6. out
      a. out of
      b. outside
      c. outside of
  7. to
      a. toward
      b. towards
  8. through
      *throughout
  9. under
       *underneath
10. up
      a. upon
      b. up to
11. with
      a. within
      b. without
Now put all that together, and you have learned many, many prepositions!

day 33: prepositions that are opposites

by | Feb 4, 2011

Our “homework help” is going beyond one week! Just a couple more categories of prepositions to give you, and you will be ready for any preposition quiz you ever have! Smile…
A person becomes a good student and an effective learner when he or she learns how he or she learns! For example, some people study for a test by making note cards; others like to recite facts aloud while studying; others learn best just by reading the textbook over and over.
Language Lady 365 will help you become a better learner by teaching you different learning strategies–and you can use the one(s) that work best for you.
For example, in learning prepositions, you may use your “Preposition Practice Pal” (PPP) from earlier. Or you could memorize them in alphabetical order. Or you could learn them in categories, like beginning letters or opposites.
Besides learning prepositions that fit into the “Birdie flew” sentence and learning prepositions that begin with certain letters, you can also learn prepositions that are opposites!
After all, prepositions show position, so it makes sense that opposite words are prepositions since many of them show position too.
Birdie flew ___________________ the tube.
Fill in the blank for any opposite word that might fit.
Note: Many words have more than one opposite of them—under has over and possibly above. You may list any one you think of for each one.
  1. Birdie flew above the tube.
  2. Birdie flew ___________________ the tube.
  3. Birdie flew beneath the tube.
  4. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
  5. Birdie flew atop the tube.
  6. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
  7. Birdie flew below the tube.
  8. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
  9. Birdie flew inside of the tube.
10. Birdie flew__________________ the tube.
11. Birdie flew off the tube.
12. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
13. Birdie flew over the tube.
14. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
15. Birdie flew on the tube.
16. Birdie flew__________________ the tube.
17. Birdie flew inside the tube.
18. Birdie flew __________________ the tube.
19. Birdie flew to the tube.
20. Birdie flew__________________ the tube.
 Some of the prepositions that you may have listed include (but are not limited to):
  1. below, beneath, under, underneath
  2. out
  3. above, over, atop
  4. on
  5. below, beneath, under, underneath
  6. below, beneath, under, underneath
  7. outside
  8. down
  9. from
10. above, over, atop
11. above, over, atop
12. out, out of
13. to, toward, towards
14. outside of

day 32: prepositions that begin with vowels plus B—answers!

by | Feb 2, 2011

Read through the prepositions below beginning with A, I, O, U, and B—with your little toy and tissue tube in mind from earlier in the week.
Birdie flew _______________ the tube.
  1. aboard – Birdie flew aboard the tube.
  2. about – Birdie flew about the tube.
  3. above – Birdie flew above the tube.
  4. across – Birdie flew across the tube.
  5. across from – Birdie flew across from the tube.
  6. after – Birdie flew after the tube.
  7. against – Birdie flew against the tube.
  8. ahead of – Birdie flew ahead of the tube.
  9. alongside – Birdie flew alongside the tube.
10. alongside of – Birdie flew alongside of the tube.
11. along with – Birdie flew along with the tube.
12. amid – Birdie flew amid the tube.
13. amidst – Birdie flew amidst the tube.
14. among – Birdie flew among the tube.
15. amongst – Birdie flew amongst the tube.
16. around – Birdie flew around the tube.
17. aside – Birdie flew aside the tube.
18. astride – Birdie flew astride the tube.
19. at – Birdie flew at the tube.
20. atop – Birdie flew atop the tube.
Birdie flew…
  1. before the tube – Birdie flew before the tube.
  2. behind the tube – Birdie flew behind the tube.
  3. below the tube – Birdie flew below the tube.
  4. beneath the tube – Birdie flew beneath the tube.
  5. beside the tube – Birdie flew beside the tube.
  6. beside of – Birdie flew before of the tube.
  7. between the tube – Birdie flew between the tube.
  8. betwixt the tube (old English word) – Birdie flew betwixt the tube.
  9. beyond the tube – Birdie flew beyond the tube.
10. by the tube – Birdie flew by the tube.
Birdie flew…
  1. in the tube – Birdie flew in the tube.
  2. inside the tube – Birdie flew inside the tube.
  3. inside of – Birdie flew inside of the tube.
  4. into the tube – Birdie flew into the tube.
Birdie flew….
1. off the tube – Birdie flew off the tube.
2. off of the tube – Birdie flew off of the tube.
3. on the tube – Birdie flew on the tube.
4. on top of the tube – Birdie flew on top of the tube.
5. opposite the tube – Birdie flew opposite the tube. 
6.  out of the tube – Birdie flew out of the tube.
7. outside the tube – Birdie flew outside the tube.
8. outside of the tube – Birdie flew outside of the tube.
9. over the tube – Birdie flew over the tube.
10. under the tube – Birdie flew under the tube.
11. unto the tube – Birdie flew unto the tube.

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