Prepositions and Conjunctions
- 2. Prepositions Prepositions are words that show where someone or something is, or tells when something is happening. They can also be used to show a few other relationships, such as to whom you give something, or if you do something with or without something else.
- 3. Common prepositions about above across after against along amid among around at atop before behind below beneath beside between beyond but (meaning except) by concerning down during except for from in inside into like near of off on onto out outside over past regarding since through throughout to toward under underneath until up upon with within without
- 4. Prepositional phrases A prepositional phrase is a phrase (group of words) that includes AT LEAST a preposition and a noun or pronoun, which is known as the object of the preposition. It is not important to know this terminology, but this is an important concept to understand. When using a pronoun as part of a prepositional phrase, make sure that it is in the objective case.
- 5. Prepositions in Idioms Many prepositions have to be used in a certain way with certain phrases. This is not because one preposition is grammatically more correct, but because certain phrases in English are idiomatically correct because they have always been said a certain way. For example, we would say: “She fell in love with him.” We would never say, “She fell towards love at him.” We would say, “He is hard at work.” We would never say, “He is hard in work” with the same meaning in mind.
- 6. Conjunctions Conjunctions are words that link ideas together. There are three main types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinate, and correlative.
- 7. Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions are probably the conjunctions that you are most familiar with. There are seven: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. You can remember these with the acronym FANBOYS
- 8. Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions can be used to join similar words, phrases, or clauses. The most commonly used conjunction is “and”. Examples Joining words: John and Kim went to the store. Joining phrases: The mouse ran out the door and through the garden. Joining clauses: The mouse ran out the door, and I followed it.
- 9. Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions can also be used to join two independent clauses. An independent clause is something that can stand on its own as a sentence. Example subject+verb +CONJ + subject+ verb The professor paced, but the student sat quietly. “The professor paced” and “The student sat quietly” could both be independent sentences.
- 10. Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a dependent clause to an independent clause. An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a sentence - it expresses a complete thought. A subordinate clause is a clause that cannot be sentence on its own.
- 11. Subordinating Conjunctions Usually, a subordinate clause will describe either the background circumstances of the independent clause, or will give more detail about one part of the independent clause. There are a lot of subordinate conjunctions, but some of the more common ones include. after, although, because, even though, if, once, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while
- 12. Using Subordinating Conjunctions You can use the following structures to form sentences with dependent and independent clauses: (subordinating conjunction + dependent clause) , (independent clause). Example Since she loved chocolate, she ate the whole box of candy.
- 13. Using Subordinating Conjunctions (independent clause) + (subordinating conjunction + dependent clause). Example: She ate the whole box of candy because she loves chocolate. Sometimes, a subordinate conjunction and dependent clause can come in between parts of the independent clause. Example: Sonja, because she loves chocolate, eats it every chance she gets.
- 14. Correlative Conjunctions These are very similar to coordinating conjunctions, but they must always be used in pairs. These pairs are worth memorizing because occasionally the ACT will test these to see if you know which words belong together. both...and either...or neither…nor not only...but also whether...or
- 15. Examples of Correlative Conjunctions Both my sister and I went to the park. Do you either want to go dancing or go to the gym? The soup contains neither onions nor garlic.
- 16. Best overall tip for conjunctions The ACT like to test parallel structure in sentences. When two or more things are linked by a conjunction, remember that they should have the same general structure. Example: Mike likes biking and to swim. INCORRECT Mike likes biking and swimming. CORRECT Mike likes to bike and to swim. CORRECT
- 17. Practice!