Prepositions and
Particles
Dave Roberts
Kyoung Wook Lee
Ji Hyun Yoon
Introduction
We will look at:
• Differences between prepositions and particles.
• Different types of prepositions.
• Use of prepositions in describing space, time
and metaphor.
• Use of particles in phrasal verbs.
• Conceptual meanings of some common
particles.
Basic forms
Differences between prepositions and particles.
If the pronoun in a
sentence is the object
then it will be located
after a preposition:
They gathered round
him.
But, where possible,
before a particle:
Then they beat him
up.
An adverb can occur
between a verb and a
preposition:
He ran quickly
through the
supermarket.
But rarely between a verb
and a particle. In this case
it will occur before the verb:
They mercilessly
beat up the
snitch.
A preposition can be
placed before the whform in questions and
relative clauses:
Is this the place
about which we were
told?
Particles are not used in
this way:
Up whom did you
beat?
Differences between Prepositions
and Particles
Verb + Preposition
Verb + Particle
Preposition is
unstressed
Particle is stressed
Pronoun after
preposition
Pronoun before particle
Adverb before
preposition
Adverb not before particle
Preposition before whform in questions,
relative clauses
Particle not before whform in questions, relative
clauses
Prepositions
We use two distinct types of
preposition, simple and complex.
-Simple prepositions do not contain nouns. For
example, at last.
-Single-syllable forms (for, in, of, to, on) have
general conceptual meaning. They have a more
grammatical function.
-Multi-syllable forms have more specific
conceptual meaning for the phrase in which they
are used. They have a lexical function.
- Complex
prepositions contain nouns. For
example, for the sake of.
- Most learners have lots of practice with
simple verb + preposition sequences. They
are familiar with the use of adverb between
verb and preposition:
Listen carefully to
the instructions
.
- They also need to be aware that adverbs
are not usually placed between a verb and
a particle and avoid strange sentences
such as:
Wash
quickly
up the Dishes.
Simple prepositions
One syllable forms.
Occur frequently.
General conceptual
meaning.
Grammatical
Other simple prepositions carry
more specific meaning. Contribute
directly to the meaning of phrases in
which they occur.
Lexical
At
Of
Above
Despite
By
Off
Among
During
for
On
Before
Opposite
From To
Behind
Toward(s)
Below
Under
In
With
Complex Prepositions
(Preposition) + Noun Phrase + Preposition
In accordance with
By means of
On account of
For the purpose of
In addition to
With reference to
On behalf of
For the sake of
In case of
In spite of
Static Locations
In Space
at
A point in space with no relevant dimension.
A narrowly specified point in space.
At the park
on
One or two relevant dimensions. Location
narrowed to a surface or linear concept.
On the block
in
Two or three relevant dimensions.
A general idea in space.
In the city
Static Locations
In Time
at
Narrowly specified points in time.
At 7pm
on
Restricted points in time.
On Tuesday evening
in
General locations in time.
In November
Goal of Movement
In Space
to
Goal of movement in relation to a specific
point.
He went to the beach
On(to)
Goal of movement in relation to a surface.
He climbed on(to) the pier
In(to)
Goal of movement in relation to an area.
He dived in(to) the sea
Source of Movement
In Space
from
Source of movement in relation to a specific
point.
Get it from the shop
off
Source of movement in relation to a surface.
Get off the sofa
out of
Source of movement in relation to an area.
Get out of the house
Source/Goal of Movement
In Time
to
Goal of movement in relation to a specific
point from another point.
Lines are open from 6 to 9 tonight.
In(to)
Goal of movement in relation to a period of
time.
The fine weather continued into November.
Path of Movement
In Space
past
Movement in relation to a specific point.
Go past the library
along
Movement in relation to a surface.
Go along the main road
through Movement in relation to an area.
Go through the tunnel
Path of Movement
In Time
past
Movement in relation to a specific point.
It was past midnight when they finally left
through Movement in relation to a period of time.
The sunny days continued through October.
Location in metaphor
The concept of containers to describe space
and time can be extended to more abstract
concepts.
Emotions
Fall in love
Stay out of trouble
Linguistic
expressions
Visual field
Put in into words
Communication through language.
It’s come into view
It’s out of sight now
Location in space
Point
Surface
Area
Connected
position
At E
On E
In E
Goal of
movement
To E
On(to)
Source of
movement
(away)
from
E
Past
E
Off
In (to)
E
Out of
Path of
movement
E
Along
E
E
Through
E
Activity 1: Rosie’s Walk
1. Goal of activity: Learning about
prepositions through the story.
Practicing using physical prepositions with
each other.
2. Type of activity: Group work
3. Approximate time: 20 ~ 25 min
4. Materials : story book and realia
5. Student profile : 1 year of Kindergarten – 7
years old kid, Novice mid.
6. Procedure
- Show the pictures of story and talk about them
- Read the story book together
- Have students fill in the blanks while looking at
the pictures.
- Have students draw a map of where Rosie went
and present it using prepositions of location
- Ask a student to come to the front and do as the
teacher says
Ex> go over the chair – go under the desk -go
around the teachers’ table- go past the white
board – go through the tunnel.
And Have student explain what he/ she did
Activity 2: Around the world in
80 days
1. Goal of activity: Learning about prepositions of
time and place by making and talking about the
schedule. (Information gap)
2. Type of activity: Pair work
3. Approximate time: 30 min
4. Materials : Storybook, worksheet, paper,
coloured pencils.
5. Student profile : 1st grader of middle Novice
high.
6. Procedure
- The class reads the first chapter of the story together and the
teacher checks comprehension by asking questions where
appropriate.
- Highlight the preposition in and explain how it can be applied
to both situations.
- Do the same with prepositions on and at so that students
understand their use in explaining time.
- Practice the preposition sentences about the story and make
them relevant to the students’ lives.
Give some example sentences about the times of events in the
story. Students must fill in the blanks with the appropriate
preposition, on, in, at. They can use the storybook to help them.
- Have students make their own schedule in the given form.
- A pair of students will talk about their own schedules and make
an appointment.
Activity 3: Storyboard
Aim of the activity: for the students to imaginatively use
prepositions in metaphor.
Type of activity:
group work.
Approximate time: 30 minutes.
Materials:
large versions of above pictures.
Student profile:
4th grade elementary students, low
intermediate level, 40 minute class 3 days a
week. 12 students in the class.
Procedure: - divide students into groups of 3.
- give each group small copies of the story pictures
(in no particular order).
- groups are to try to work out a story using the
pictures. The aim is to incorporate prepositions of
metaphor in their story.
- teams take turns presenting their stories to the rest
of the class.
The teams are awarded points according to how
many appropriate uses they can incorporate into
their stories.
- The teacher presents their intended story and
students identify the uses of prepositions in
metaphor.
Storyboard
?
Jenny
Robbie
Robbie
Robbie
!
Jenny
Robbie
Phil
Jenny
Phil
Particles
Preposition forms can be used as particles when in
Verb + Particle combinations.
These Phrasal Verbs can be used in different ways:
Without direct object
Object after the
particle
Get out!
She ran up a big
phone bill
Object before the particle
The team didn’t let me down
Object before or after the
particle
Turn the TV off. Turn off the TV
Meanings of Particles
Particles
Conceptual Meanings
Up
Increase, completion
Down
Decrease, completion
Off
Disconnection, completion
On
Connection, continuation
Out
Removal, change of state
Away
Disconnection,
unrestrained action
Use of the particle up
Increase in
Level
Things are heating up.
Size
Fill it up.
Activity
We will stir things up.
Readiness
They’re all fired up.
Awareness
He will soon sober up.
Visibility
I was glad when he turned up.
Completion
He cleaned up his room.
Use of the particle down
Decrease in
Level
Prices have come down.
Size
The swelling has gone down.
Activity
We asked them to quiet
down.
Readiness
The troops were told to stand
down.
Completion
All operations have been
shut down.
Meaning in Context
Preposition phrase
Information about
circumstances of events
- In initial position Starting point, setting, framework
- In final position
Particle
Additional circumstantial information
Information key to the event itself
- Object before particle
Shorter, unstressed, pronoun, given
- Particle before object
Longer, stressed, noun phrase, new
Activity 4: TPR activity
Goal of activity: Make students understand
prepositions by doing activity.(TPR)
Type of activity : pair work
Approximate time :10~15 min
Materials: papers, construction paper, scissors, glue
water spray
Students’ profile: 2nd graders in elementary school
Procedure: - divide students into groups of 2.
– distribute 2 pieces of paper, one piece of construction
paper, 2 glues, and 2 scissors to each group.
- Ask students to stand up and sit down, hands up and down.
- Ask them to take out their scissors.
-demonstrate how to cut, bend, fold, tear and glue the
paper.
- Showing visual aid, have students to repeat verbs such as,
cut, glue, tear, fold, and bend.
- Give directions which include prepositions. (ex. cut out the
paper, glue it on the blue construction paper, bend it over,
tear it off, fold it over, and mix it up.)
- have students follow instructions with actions.
- ask one student from each group to describe what just
he/she did by using prepositions.
-For pair work, have one student give instructions to his/her
partner. Then ask the other to follow the instructions. Then,
take turns.
Activity 5: Traffic signs
Goal of activity: students can practice prepositions with traffic
signs.
Type of activity : group work
Approximate time: 30 min.
Materials: pictures of traffic signs, direction cards, preposition
cards.
Students’ profile: novice high, adult learners
Procedure: -divide students into groups of 5.
–distribute pictures of traffic signs and direction
cards to each group.
-Ask students to match the traffic signs with
direction cards in a group.
-distribute preposition cards to each group. Ask
them to fill in the blanks of direction cards with
preposition cards.
-Once they finish the group work, one student
from each group read completed sentences.
-ask one student in a group to pick up the
picture and show it to his/her group numbers.
Others will describe the traffic sign with
prepositions.
-have students take turns to practice prepositions
with pictures and direction cards.
P
Do not park ( )
the area ( ) the
signs
Do not drive ( )
the intersection
Do not turn to go
( ) the opposite
direction
(U-turn)
Do not turn right
when facing a
red light ( ) the
intersection
No bicycles
allowed ( ) this
road
Do not turn left ( )
the intersection
Slight bend or
curve ( ) the road
ahead
Right lane ends
( ). If you are ( )
the right-hand
lane, you must
merge safely with
traffic ( ) the lane
to the left
Pavement
narrows ( )
Pavement is
slippery when
wet. Slow ( ) and
drive with
caution
Sharp bend or
turn in the road
( ).
Winding road ( ).
Stop sign ( ).
Slow down.
Two roads going
( ) the same
direction are
about to join ( )
one. Drivers on
both are equally
responsible for
seeing that traffic
merges smoothly
and safely.
STOP
Traffic travels ( )
both direction ( )
the same road
ahead. Keep to
the right.
between
at
through
in
to
ahead
in
ahead
at
in
on
with
in
down
to
in
with
on
in
ahead
ahead
to
ahead
ahead
in
into
on
Location in time
In –
At - used to describe location in a specific point in time.
at 6 o’clock
On – used to describe location in a restricted unit of time.
on Friday night
In – used to describe location in an extended period of time.
in December
Types of Phrasal Verbs
Non-separable
Meanings in context
Prepositions are at the edge of the
action in a sentence.
Particles are often at the centre of
the action.
Using Prepositions
Simple one-syllable prepositions have many possible uses
and can describe a wide variety of relationships.
The grammatical use depends on the conceptual meaning
of the noun phrases that follow them.
To understand how prepositions are used we need to
understand how spatial locations are perceived, and from
this how different types of concepts are defined.