Preposition Power Reference Sheet
Grade 7 ELA • Grammar Navigator
Preposition Power Reference Sheet
Reference & Study Guide
What is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence. It shows relationships of location (where), time (when), direction (which way), or logic (how/why).
The Airplane Test
Think: An airplane can fly _____ a cloud. (above, through, into, past, under, toward).
The 7th Grade Essential Preposition Bank
Over 50 high-frequency prepositions
Position & Location (Where)
aboard above across against among around behind below beneath beside between inside near outside under upon
Direction & Movement (Which Way)
along down into onto off over past through throughout to toward underneath up
Time & Duration (When)
after before during since until at by for in on within
Condition & Logic (Connection)
about despite except from like of regarding unlike with without
Grade 7 Level Up
Compound Prepositions (Multi-Word Prepositions)
Some prepositions consist of two or three words functioning as a single unit. Treat the entire cluster as one preposition!
according to
ahead of
because of
in addition to
in front of
in spite of
instead of
next to
Turn over for: Identifying Prepositional Phrases & The Adverb Trap Page 1 of 2
Part 2 • Phrase Architecture & Rules
How to Identify Prepositional Phrases
#2
The Golden Formula
Preposition (P)
The starter word
Modifiers (M)
Optional (a, the, green...)
Object of Preposition (OP)
Noun or Pronoun
Example: [through the dense forest] • [with her] • [under three large rocks]
The 4-Step Phrase Detective Strategy
1 Locate a Preposition
Scan for a word from your preposition list (e.g., under, past, during, behind).
2 Ask "Whom?" or "What?"
Say the preposition, then immediately ask "Whom?" or "What?". (e.g., Around... what?)
3 Find the Object (OP)
The noun or pronoun that answers the question is your Object of the Preposition.
4 Bracket & Verify
Bracket from preposition to object: [around the corner]. It will never contain a verb predicate!
Common 7th Grade Trap: Preposition or Adverb?
A word is only a preposition if it has an object! If it stands alone with no noun following it, it is an adverb.
Adverb (No Object)
The dog ran inside.
"Inside" tells where, but has no object following it.
Preposition (Has Object)
The dog ran [inside the doghouse].
"Doghouse" is the Object of the Preposition.
Try It! Bracket the Prepositional Phrase & Circle the Object (OP)
Self-Check Practice
1. The weary detective walked across the creaky wooden floor. [across the wooden floor] • OP: floor
2. During the fierce thunderstorm, the lights flickered out. [During the thunderstorm] • OP: thunderstorm
3. She hid her secret journal beneath the mattress. [beneath the mattress] • OP: mattress
Pro Tip: A sentence can have multiple prepositional phrases in a row! Page 2 of 2
