The object of a preposition is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that follows a preposition and completes its meaning. For example, in “the cat slept on the mat,” mat is the object of the preposition on.
What Exactly Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. Common prepositions include in, on, at, by, for, with, about, under, over, between, among, and through. They often indicate location, time, direction, or manner. For instance, “She walked through the door” – through shows direction, and door is the object. Prepositions are almost always followed by an object, which is why the object is essential to the preposition’s function.
How to Identify the Object of a Preposition
To find the object, first locate the preposition, then ask “what?” or “whom?” after it. For example:
- “The book is on the table” – preposition on, ask “on what?” → table.
- “She gave a gift to her friend” – preposition to, ask “to whom?” → friend.
- “He ran across the bridge” – preposition across, ask “across what?” → bridge.
The object can be a single word, a phrase, or even a clause. In “We talked about what happened,” the object is the noun clause what happened. In “She is good at solving puzzles,” the object is the gerund phrase solving puzzles.
Pronouns as Objects: Why Case Matters
When the object is a pronoun, it must be in the objective case: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. This is a common source of error. For example, “Between you and me” is correct, not “between you and I.” Similarly, “She spoke to him” not “to he.” The rule is simple: after a preposition, always use the object form of the pronoun. This is especially noticeable in compound objects, such as “with John and me” rather than “with John and I.”
Compound Objects and Prepositional Phrases
A preposition can have more than one object, called a compound object. For example, “The gift is for you and me” – both you and me are objects of for. The entire prepositional phrase includes the preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. In “She lives in the old house on the hill,” there are two prepositional phrases: in the old house and on the hill. Each has its own object. Recognizing the full phrase helps you understand the sentence structure and avoid misplacing modifiers.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One frequent error is using the subjective pronoun after a preposition, as in “between you and I.” Another is confusing prepositions with conjunctions or adverbs. For instance, “The cat jumped off of the table” is redundant – simply say “off the table.” Similarly, “Where are you at?” is nonstandard; drop the at. Also, be careful with preposition placement in questions and relative clauses. In formal writing, avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, though it is acceptable in casual speech. For example, “From where did you come?” is formal, while “Where did you come from?” is informal but common.
Prepositions vs. Particles: A Subtle Distinction
Some words can function as either prepositions or particles in phrasal verbs. A particle is part of the verb and does not take an object in the same way. For example, in “He looked up the word,” up is a particle, and word is the direct object of the verb phrase, not the object of a preposition. In contrast, “He walked up the hill,” up is a preposition with hill as its object. How can you tell? If you can move the word after the verb without changing meaning, it’s a particle (e.g., “He looked the word up”). If not, it’s a preposition. This distinction matters for grammar and meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of an object of a preposition?
In the sentence “She sat beside the river,” river is the object of the preposition beside. The phrase “beside the river” acts as an adverb, telling where she sat.
Can a preposition have more than one object?
Yes, a preposition can have a compound object. For example, “The gift is for you and me” – both you and me are objects of for.
Is “to” always a preposition?
No, “to” can also be part of an infinitive, as in “to run” or “to eat.” In “I want to go,” to go is an infinitive, not a prepositional phrase. In “I went to the store,” to is a preposition with store as its object.
What is the difference between a preposition and a conjunction?
A preposition takes an object, while a conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses. For example, “after” can be a preposition (“after dinner”) or a conjunction (“after we ate”). In the first, dinner is the object; in the second, we ate is a clause.
Why do we say “between you and me” not “between you and I”?
Because “between” is a preposition, and pronouns after prepositions must be in the objective case. “I” is subjective, while “me” is objective. So “between you and me” is grammatically correct.
Can a preposition be at the end of a sentence?
In formal writing, it is often avoided, but in everyday speech and informal writing, it is perfectly acceptable. For example, “What are you looking at?” is natural, though the formal version would be “At what are you looking?”
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