Reading and Writing · 09 · Grammar Foundations
Prepositions
Notes
Key points
- Prepositions show relation: in, on, of, at, by, with, between, among, about.
- Preposition + noun = prepositional phrase. The subject is never inside it.
- After a preposition, object pronouns: “between you and me”.
- Fixed pairs: consistent with, capable of, focus on, different from.
- No colon or comma between a preposition and its object.
Rules
Cross out prepositional phrases to find the subject.
The list of items is long.
The list of items are long.
Object pronouns after prepositions.
The decision was left to him and her.
The decision was left to he and she.
No punctuation between a preposition and its object.
The study focused on bees, ants, and wasps.
The study focused on: bees, ants, and wasps.
Common traps
- Matching the verb to the noun right before it — often a preposition's object.
- Choosing a colon before a list that follows “of”, “on” or “including”.
SAT tip
Bracket every “of …” phrase before choosing a verb; the real subject usually sits just before “of”.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Prepositions, easiest first.