Free Language Stuff

Preposition List

Basic Location

up, down, beside, above, at, behind, below, beside, by, in, in front of, off, on, out, outside, over, to, under

Later Developing Location

aboard, across, against, ahead of, along, among, around, beneath, between, beyond, into, near, onto, past, through, throughout, toward, underneath, upon, within

Relation

about, as, but, by, from, despite, except, for, like, of, to, with, without

Time

after, at, before, during, since, throughout, till, until, while

Prepositions printable worksheets

Previews – Click on picture to view a small preview of each activity.

(1) (2)  (3)  (4) (5) (6)  (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)

Documents – Click on Doc or PDF to download worksheets in preferred format.

(1) Choose the Correct Prep Sentence 1 Doc PDF;     (2) Choose the Correct Prep Sentence 2 Doc PDF;     (3) Comprehension Strips – Basic Prepositions 1 Doc PDF;     (4) Comprehension Strips  – Basic Prepositions 2 Doc PDF;     (5) Comprehension Strips – Later Developing Prepositions 1 Doc PDF ;     (6) Comprehension Strips – Later Developing Prepositions 2 Doc PDF;     (7) Preposition Pictures Download Doc ;     (8) Sentence Search 1 Download Doc ;     (9) Sentence Search 2 Download Doc ; (10) Sentence Search 3 Download Doc; (11) Sentence Maze 1 Download Doc; (12) Sentence Maze 2 Download Doc ; (13) Sentence Maze 3 Download Doc;      (14) Preposition Bullseye 1 Download Doc ; (15) Preposition Bullseye 2 Download Doc;      (16)Preposition Sentence Drop 1 Download Doc;      (17)Preposition Sentence Drop 2 Download Doc; (18) United States Prepositions Download Doc

Prepositions Cards

Cards                                              Sentences                                Backs

Card Doc 1 Card Doc 2 Sentence Cards 1 Sentence Cards 2 Sentence Cards 3 Backs

Functional and other preposition activities

Battleshapes/Choices  Pictures/Simon Says  Following Directions   Functional/Misc  Scripts/Drill

Download Doc Download Doc Download Doc Download Doc Download Doc

Background Information

Prepositions express relationships between two parts of a sentence. Some prepositions consist of more than one word. The words in these prepositions are typically inflexible, for example in spite of can’t be changed to “out spite of” (Crystal, 1995) Much of what is currently categorized under “basic concepts,” such as on the Bracken and CASL tests, actually are prepositions and adjectives.

Prepositions, and location prepositions in particular, have been studied somewhat extensively (Owens, 1996). From these studies, many presumptions about acquisition have been made. These include:

• Children often respond to the objects mentioned before the preposition used

• Interpretation of more difficult prepositions requires being able to adopt the perspective of the speaker.
• Terms that signal movement toward the speaker should be easier than their opposites.

Certain prepositions can be used to achieve similar, yet distinct, functions. At can be used for time (“Meet me at 3 o’clock.”), or location (“Meet me at the store.”). Studies with brain injured patients have indicated that these functions are performed in different areas of the brain (Kemmerer, 2005).

Much of the difficulty in learning any new word or linguistic concept is determined by two factors: 1) complexity of the relationship the word symbolizes, and 2) frequency of exposure. Prepositions provide a perfect example of how this is true. Between usually develops later than under, because it describes relationships among three items rather than two. Through develops later than above because it occurs less frequently in typical language.

Tests that assess prepositions include the SPELT-3, CELF-P2, TACL, Bracken, CASL, and the OWLS.

Elicitation Ideas

Preposition Goal Suggestions

George will identify objects and pictures upon hearing basic location prepositions; for example, “What is behind the tree?”

John will answer questions requiring varied location, relation, or time prepositions; for example, “Where is the rope?” or “When do you eat dessert?”

Thomas will use varied location, relation, or time prepositions in sentences; for example, “Use the word ‘without’ in a sentence.”

Prepositions express relationships between two parts of a sentence. Some prepositions consist of more than one word. The words in these prepositions are typically inflexible, for example in spite of can’t be changed to “out spite of” (Crystal, 1995) Much of what is currently categorized under “basic concepts,” such as on the Bracken and CASL tests, actually are prepositions and adjectives.

Prepositions, and location prepositions in particular, have been studied somewhat extensively (Owens, 1996). From these studies, many presumptions about acquisition have been made. These include:

• Children often respond to the objects mentioned before the

preposition used

• Interpretation of more difficult prepositions requires being able to adopt the perspective of the speaker.

• Terms that signal movement toward the speaker should be easier

than their opposites.

Certain prepositions can be used to achieve similar, yet distinct, functions. At can be used for time (“Meet me at 3 o’clock.”), or location (“Meet me at the store.”). Studies with brain injured patients have indicated that these functions are performed in different areas of the brain (Kemmerer, 2005).

Much of the difficulty in learning any new word or linguistic concept is determined by two factors: 1) complexity of the relationship the word symbolizes, and 2) frequency of exposure. Prepositions provide a perfect example of how this is true. Between usually develops later than under, because it describes relationships among three items rather than two. Through develops later than above because it occurs less frequently in typical language.

Tests that assess prepositions include the SPELT-3, CELF-P2, TACL, Bracken, CASL, and the OWLS.