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LESSON 4 – PREPOSITIONS, CONJUNCTIONS AND INTERJECTIONS

ACTIVATE
Study the image below.

ANTICIPATE
Reflect on these questions.
1. Where is his phone?
2. Where is his webcam?
3. What have you observed from your answers? What has been the similarity and
difference?

ACQUIRE
CONJUNCTIONS
A conjunction is a part of speech that is used to connect words, phrases, clauses, or
sentences. Conjunctions are considered to be invariable grammar particle, and they
may or may not stand between items they conjoin.
Conjunction Rules
There are a few important rules for using conjunctions. Remember them and you will
find that your writing flows better:
• Conjunctions are for connecting thoughts, actions, and ideas as well as nouns, clauses,
and other parts of speech. For example: Mary went to the supermarket and bought
oranges.
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Conjunctions are useful for making lists. For example: We made pancakes,
eggs, and coffee for breakfast.
• When using conjunctions, make sure that all the parts of your sentences agree. For
example: “I work busily yet am careful” does not agree. “I work
busily yet carefully” shows agreement.
Conjunctions List
There are only a few common conjunctions, yet these words perform many functions:
They present explanations, ideas, exceptions, consequences, and contrasts. Here is a
list of conjunctions commonly used in American English:

And As Because But For Just as

Or Neither Nor Not only So Whether Yet

Types of Conjunctions
1. Subordinating Conjunction
Subordinating conjunctions are parts of speech that join dependent clauses to
independent clauses. Sometimes referred to as subordinators or subordinate
conjunctions, these important words and phrases may also introduce adverb
clauses.
Subordinating conjunctions are essential parts of complex sentences with include
at least two clauses, with one of the clauses being main (independent) and the
other being subordinate (dependent).
There is only one rule to remember about using subordinate conjunctions:
A subordinate conjunction performs two functions within a sentence. First, it
illustrates the importance of the independent clause. Second, it provides a
transition between two ideas in the same sentence. The transition always indicates
a place, time, or cause and effect relationship. For example: We looked in the
metal canister, where Ginger often hides her candy
In the following examples, the subordinating conjunctions are in bold for easy
identification:
1. As Sherri blew out the candles atop her birthday cake, she caught her hair on
fire.
2. Sara begins to sneeze whenever she opens the window to get a breath of
fresh air.
3. When the doorbell rang, my dog Skeeter barked loudly.

2. Correlative Conjunction
As suggested by their name, correlative conjunctions correlate, working in pairs to join
phrases or words that carry equal importance within a sentence. Like many of the
most interesting parts of speech, correlative conjunctions are fun to use. At the same
time, there are some important rules to remember for using them correctly.

• When using correlative conjunctions, ensure verbs agree so your sentences

make sense. For example: Every night, either loud music or fighting neighbors
wake John from his sleep.
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• When you use a correlative conjunction, you must be sure that

pronouns agree. For example: Neither Debra nor Sally expressed her
annoyance when the cat broke the antique lamp.
• When using correlative conjunctions, be sure to keep parallel structure intact.
Equal grammatical units need to be incorporated into the entire sentence. For
example: Not only did Mary grill burgers for Michael, but she also fixed a steak
for her dog, Vinny.

3. Coordinating Conjunction
Coordinating conjunctions coordinate or join two or more sentences, main clauses,
words, or other parts of speech which are of the same syntactic importance. Also
known as coordinators, coordinating conjunctions are used to give equal emphasis
to a pair of main clauses.

Coordinating Conjunction Rules

As there are only seven of these words, there are just a few rules for using coordinating
conjunctions correctly:
1. It’s a good idea to use the mnemonic “FANBOYS” to memorize coordinating
conjunctions so you’ll never forget them. They are:
• F = for
• A = and
• N = nor
• B = but
• O = or
• Y = yet
• S = so
2. Coordinating conjunctions always connect phrases, words, and clauses. For
example: This batch of mushroom stew is savory and delicious.
3. Some instructors warn that starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is
incorrect. Mostly, this is because they are attempting to help prevent you from
writing fragments rather than complete sentences; sometimes though, it’s just a
personal preference. The fact is, you can begin sentences with coordinating
conjunctions as long as you follow these three rules for doing so:
• Ensure that the coordinating conjunction is immediately followed by a main clause
• Don’t use coordinating conjunctions to begin all of your sentences. Do so only when
it makes your writing more effective.
• Although commas typically follow coordinating conjunctions used in areas other
than the beginning of a sentence, they should not be used after coordinating
conjunctions used to open sentences unless an interrupter immediately follows.
Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions
In the following examples, the coordinating conjunctions have been italicized for easy
identification.
1. You can eat your cake with a spoon or fork.
2. My dog enjoys being bathed but hates getting his nails trimmed.
3. Bill refuses to eat peas, nor will he touch carrots.
4. I hate to waste a drop of gas, for it is very expensive these days.
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PREPOSITIONS
A preposition links nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. It
sits in front of (is “pre-positioned” before) its object. A preposition is always a part of the
prepositional phrase. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the
object of the preposition.
A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial, or logical relationship of its
object to the rest of the sentences as in the following examples:
• The laptop is on the study table.
• The laptop is under the study table.
• The laptop is beside the study table.
• The laptop is between the study table and the cabinet.

In each of the preceding sentences, the preposition locates the noun “laptop”.

The most common prepositions are:

Preposition Meaning Preposition Meaning

aboard on board before earlier than, in the
presence of, in front
about with regard to, on all behind back of, late
side of, approximately
above up, higher than, more below down, under, lower
than level
across opposite of, from side but except
to the other
after later than, behind in concerning about
position, beyond the
time
against touching, in an down below
opposite direction
along parallel to during for the period of
along with
among with or surrounded by, except minus, not included
in the midst of
around in a circular motion – for during, space,
encircling an object, included, means, in
approximately place of
as like, in the capacity of from beginning at, away
from a point, cause,
distance
aside from besides, other than in enclosure, being
surrounded, in a period,
at a period, in front of
at presence or contact, in back of in spite of
point of a time, point
of measurement
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at the top of
at the bottom
of
away from any given place inside within
away from
beneath under into toward and within

beside by the side of like resembling

besides over and above minus except

between in the place that near close

intervenes
beyond at a further point, of belonging to
after a given time
by near, not later than, off away from another
agency manner subject
on in contact with top throughout from beginning to the
surface, on top of end
on account of due to to in the direction of,
towards
onto motion to the surface together
with
outside outer side toward in a motion

over motion up and then under lower than, down

up again, higher than,
up
past beyond underneath lower than, down

per according to until up to the time of

since from then on up above, on top of

till up to the time of upon on

through from beginning to the via by way of, through

end
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A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition, its object and any
associated adjectives or adverbs. A prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb. Prepositional phrases do not contain verbs. Generally, they
contain an adjective, a noun, or a pronoun and they can also contain a gerund.
Prepositional phrase can also contain conjunctions to join two nouns or pronouns. The
noun or pronoun is the object of the preposition.
Here are some examples of a prepositional phrase:
• above the sea level
• along the highway
• at John’s garden
The highlighted word in each of the sentences is a preposition. The underlined
word is the object of the preposition.
• The students entered the campus without uniform and ID.
(In this sentence, the preposition “without” introduces the nouns “uniform and
ID”. The prepositional phrase “without uniform and ID” function as an adverb
describing how the students entered.)
• There was merry- making throughout the village when Galan family arrived from
the US.

(Here, the preposition “throughout” introduces the noun phrase “the village.” The
prepositional phrase acts as an adverb describing the location of merry-making.)

• The “Fashionistas” marched nattily along the covered court.

(The preposition “along” introduces the noun phrase “the covered court” and
the prepositional phrase “along the covered court” acts as an adverb,
describing where the “fashionistas” marched.)

• Jayson is resting under century old acacia tree.

(Here the preposition “under” introduces the prepositional phrase “under the century
old acacia tree” which acts as an adverb modifying the verb phrase “is resting.”)
• An interjection is one of the eight major parts of speech, along with
verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions.
• They do not relate grammatically to the other parts of the sentence, nor do they
help the reader understand the relationship between words and phrases in the
sentence.
• Instead, interjections simply convey the way the author (or speaker) is feeling.
• Interjections are rarely used in academic or formal writing; they're more common
in fiction or artistic writing.
• They're usually, but not always, offset by an exclamation point (which is also used
to show emotion).
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INTERJECTIONS

Use of Interjections
o You'll find interjections at the beginning of sentences,
in the middle of sentences, at the end of sentences,
and sometimes as standalone sentences on their
own.
Beginning of Sentences
Interjections are commonly used at the beginning of the
sentence. They're also associated with a punctuation mark
designed to convey emotion: the exclamation point.
For example:
• "Yikes, I didn't realize that there was a test on grammar today!"
• "Oh no, I can't believe that it is snowing here again!"
• "Wow, this is such a pleasant surprise!"
Middle or End of Sentences
Interjections don't always have to be at the beginning of a
sentence. They can appear in the middle, at the end, or anywhere
else where the author wants to interject a bit of feeling and
emotion. For example:
• "So, it's snowing again, huh?"
As a Standalone Sentence
An interjection can also be used by itself as a standalone sentence.
• "Oh gosh! I can't believe how late it is."