Prepositions Uses of Prepositions o Use objective pronouns

Prepositions

Uses of Prepositions o Use objective pronouns following prepositions n I have a date with him tonight. n Between you and me, my Business English class is fun. n Employees like Jane and him should be given bonuses.

Problems with Prepositions o Of for have: Use have, not of, with would, should, or could. n I should have called before I stopped. (not should of) n I could have taken longer to respond. (not could of)

Problems with Prepositions o Off for from: Use from, not off or off of. n I received the information from the Internet. (not off of or off the Internet) n I borrowed $5 from Becca. (not off of or off Becca)

Problems with Prepositions (Con’t. ) o To for too: Use to for directions or as part of an infinitive. Use too when meaning “also, ” “additionally, ” or “excessively. ” n I went to the store. (directions) n She is planning to relocate in June. (infinitive) n She, too, will be attending the meeting. (also)

Test Your Mastery Select the correct word to complete the sentence. The incident report was (to, too) long. Get the handcuffs (from, off) Officer Pittman. Robert should (of, have) reported the incident earlier. All but (they, them) were involved in the head-on collision.

Test Your Mastery Answers The incident report was too long. Get the handcuffs from Officer Pittman. Robert should have reported the incident earlier. All but them were involved in the head-on collision.

Troublesome Prepositions o Among (3+) vs. between (2) n Just between you and me, I think Stanley should be promoted. n Dividends will be shared among Sue, Bill, and Tim.

Troublesome Prepositions (Con’t. ) o Beside (“next to”) vs. besides (“in addition to”) n Matt sat beside me during the play. n Besides Business English, I must complete Report Writing.

Troublesome Prepositions (Con’t. ) o Except (“excluding” or “but”) vs. accept (“to receive”) n Everyone except Paul should receive a raise. n Please accept my apology.

Troublesome Prepositions (Con’t. ) o In (“position” or “location”) vs. into (“entering something, ” “changing form, ” or “making contact”) vs. in to (prior to an infinitive or as an adverb before prepositional phrase) n My pens were in the drawer. (location) n Put the pens into the drawer. (entering something) n The sergeant went in to read the suspect her Miranda Rights. (before infinitive “to read”) n You must turn your form in to your boss. (adverb)

Troublesome Prepositions (Con’t. ) o Like (introduces nouns/pronouns) vs. as if, as, or as though (introduces clauses) n It looks like rain. n It looks as if it may rain.

Test Your Mastery Select the correct word to complete the sentence. o The victim looked (like, as if) she had been beaten with a bat. o There was blood (beside, besides) the victim. o All evidence was recovered (except, accept) the bat. o A fight (among, between) five people had occurred. o The victim was carried (into, in to) an ambulance.

Test Your Mastery Answers o The victim looked as if she had been beaten with a bat. o There was blood beside the victim. o All evidence was recovered except the bat. o A fight among five people had occurred. o The victim was carried into an ambulance.

Necessary Prepositions o Include if needed for clarification n When did you graduate from college? (not graduate college) o Include both prepositions if they modify same object n Karen has admiration for and interest in ballistics.

Unnecessary Prepositions o Avoid ending sentences with a preposition n n o Where is the meeting? (not meeting at? ) What should the memo address? (not What should the memo be about? ) Omit if sentence is clear n n Both Internet sites were educational. (not of the Internet sites) She met with her customers after lunch. (not met up with)

Test Your Mastery Select the correctly expressed sentence in each pair. 1 A. The officer could not remember the street the suspect turned on. 1 B. The officer could not remember the street on which the suspect turned. 2 A. She has received training in and certification for hostage negotiations. 2 B. She has received training and certification for hostage negotiations. 3 A. Both stories are accurate. 3 B. Both of the stories are accurate.

Test Your Mastery Answers 1 B. The officer could not remember the street on which the suspect turned. 2 A. She has received training in and certification for hostage negotiations. 3 A. Both stories are accurate.