Objects of Prepositions

What is an object of a preposition?

A preposition begins a relationship phrase. The noun or pronoun that completes it is the object of the preposition.

The cat is under the table.

Ask: under what? The answer, table, is the object.

Room Explorer

Move one subject around a reference object and watch the phrase change.

Experiment Room Explorer

Moving subject The cat

Preposition under

Object the table

Simulation speed 1×

Live phrase analyzer

SentenceThe cat is under the table.

SubjectThe cat

Prepositionunder

Objectthe table

Complete phraseunder the table

Under shows the relationship. Table answers “under what?”

View and focus

Zoom 100%

Tap the moving subject, preposition, or reference object.

Teacher / Demo Mode

Student Mode is the default.

Teacher tools

Laser / annotationReveal explanation

Relationship motion

Interactive visual lecture

Every spoken relationship is matched by one temporary label, an animated condition or identity scene, and highlighted sentence words.

Language English

English narrator accent USA

Accent applies only when English is selected.

Lecture speed 1×

Ready. Narration starts only when you choose a lecture control.

Step 1 of 100%

Transcript

What to watch:

Learning objectives

Identify a preposition and its object.
Use “preposition + what or whom?” to find the object.
Recognize the complete prepositional phrase.
Compare single-word and compound prepositions.
Connect sentence structure to visible spatial relationships.

Key idea

A preposition needs an object to complete its meaning. In behind the sofa, behind begins the relationship and sofa completes it. The entire group is a prepositional phrase.

Suggested experiments

Put the cat on, under, beside and behind the table.
Compare in the box with near the box.
Place Maya between two chairs.
Try the compound preposition across from.

Questions to explore

What changes when only the preposition changes?
Can the same noun be the object of several prepositions?
Why does between normally require two reference points?

Common misconceptions

The moving subject is not automatically the object of the preposition.
The object is usually a noun or pronoun, not the preposition itself.
In the small wooden box, the central noun box is the object.
In front of and across from work as complete prepositions.

Objects-of-prepositions challenge

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