Sentence Bridges

[TalonRider]

SENTENCE BRIDGES

To complete your understanding of how sentences are put together, consider the ways ideas are linked. Two kinds of ?sentence bridges? exist: prepositions and conjunctions.

Prepositions

• A preposition is a small bridge. It links a noun or pronoun to the remainder of the sentence.
  

John walked into the office.

Susan put the report on the table.

We must finish this project by Friday.

• A preposition, its object, and any words in between form a prepositional phrase. You can find the prepositional phrases anywhere in sentences. Neither the subject nor the verb can ever be a part of a prepositional phrase.
  

(In the meantime,)we will process your request.

The letters and memos (on the desk) are waiting (for revision.)

COMMON PREPOSITIONS

about ............. beneath .............. in spite of ................ since

above ............ beside ................ instead of ................. through

according to ... between .............. into ......................... throughout

across ............ beyond ................ like ........................ till

after .............. by ...................... near ....................... to

against ............ concerning .......... next to ................... toward

along .............. despite ................ of .......................... under

along with ........ down .................. off ......................... underneath

among ............. during ................ on .......................... unlike

around ............. except ................ onto ...................... until

as ................... except for ............ out ........................ up

aside from ....... excepting ............. out of .................... upon

at ....................for ....................... outside .................. with

because of ...... from .................... over ...................... within

before ............. in ........................ past ...................... without

behind ............. in addition to ........ regarding

below .............. inside .................. round

Conjunctions

• A conjunction is a bridge that links words, phrases, or clauses.
  

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FANBOYS)

Win or lose.

John wrote the report, but Mary typed it.

Exercise 6 ? Prepositions and Conjunctions

Is the boldfaced word a preposition or conjunction? Circle the correct response.

1. Gerald hopes his monkey will jump over the fence. (preposition, conjunction)

2. Angela and Harold are going to the meeting. (preposition, conjunction)

3. I knew we would be late, but we had to stop at the post office. (preposition, conjunction)

4. The file cabinet was at the back of the office. (preposition, conjunction)

5. The assistant told the salesperson not to bug her, yet she gave him a business card. (preposition, conjunction)

6. Julie planned to complete the project on time and under budget. (preposition, conjunction)

7. In addition to the paperwork, Stan needs to take his passport picture with him. (preposition, conjunction)

8. The deadline must be readjusted if she does not complete the analysis by Monday. (preposition, conjunction)

9. Tony excelled in his group, so he was promoted. (preposition, conjunction)

10. The mail production facility is located behind the conference room. (preposition, conjunction)

Exercise 7 ? Conjunctions

Choose the proper conjunction from the list for each of the sentences below. For and nor but or yet so (FANBOYS)

1. Either the desk ____ the dining room table can go in the corner of the room.

2. I would have gone to the party, ____ I lost the address of the restaurant.

3. Nate hates cake, ____ we only had ice cream at his birthday party.

4. Make the most of the day, ____ the night is long.

5. Alison was pleased with the way her life had turned out, ____ she always wondered what would have happened if she hadn?t joined the circus.

6. The deluxe sandwich was tremendously expensive, ___ the standard sandwich was not cheap either.

7. I will not be in the office this Wednesday, ___ will I be here the following Thursday.

[Trab]

Cool. I'll let someone else answer them this time, as I did so last time.

BTW, I just bought the Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation, and the first part looks interesting. It will likely become a useful resource for me.

[sat8997]

Every time I see a discussion on prepositions, I am reminded of an old joke.

A Southern belle, making small talk with a Yankee visitor, asks ?So where are y?all from?? The very snooty Yankee responds ?I?m from Manhattan, where we do not end our sentences with a preposition.? So the Southern belle, having been genteelly raised, says, ?Oh my?then let me rephrase the question. So where are y?all from, bitch??

Sharon

[TalonRider]

ROFLMAO

[Tanuki Racoon]

ROFLMAO

I concur, y'all :)

[TalonRider]

Exercise 6 ? Prepositions and Conjunctions

1. preposition

2. conjunction

3. conjunction

4. preposition

5. conjunction

6. conjunction

7. preposition

8. preposition

9. conjunction

10. preposition

Exercise 7 ? Conjunctions

1. or

2. but

3. so

4. for

5. yet (or but)

6. and

7. nor