Overview

Each word in a sentence performs a particular job, and each word can be put into a particular category called a part of speech. This unit discusses a few of these parts of speech, including prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

A preposition is a word that relates a noun or a pronoun to some other word in the sentence. Consider the following: "Sandra flew over the ocean." In this example, over is a preposition. It shows the relationship between Sandra and the ocean.

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. In the example above, the prepositional phrase is over the ocean. The noun at the end of the sentence—in this case ocean—is called the object of the preposition. When a pronoun is the object of a preposition, remember to use an object pronoun (me) and not a subject pronoun (I). "Lydia bought a souvenir for me."

A prepositional phrase is an adjective when it modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun. For example, "The tourists from the United States traveled together." A prepositional phrase can also be an adverb phrase if it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. "Raphael sat in first class." In first class modifies the verb sat by answering the question where.

Conjunctions are used to connect words or phrases. A coordinating conjunction is a single word that connects other words or phrases. And, but, for, or, yet, so, and nor are coordinating conjunctions. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that connect other words or phrases. Some correlative conjunctions are or/nor, either/both, neither/nor, and not only/but also. A conjunctive adverb may also be used to join the main clauses in a compound sentence. However and therefore are conjunctive adverbs. Use a semicolon between the main clauses that are joined by a conjunctive adverb. "Samir had never been on a plane; therefore, he was excited."

An interjection expresses strong feeling. Interjections work alone and have no grammatical connection to other words in the sentence. Gee, oh, well, wow, and ha are common interjections. "Gee! I'm glad to be home."