What is the object of a preposition?

Prepositions may be small, but they play a fundamental role in tying a sentence together. The object of a preposition works with a preposition to complete ideas or actions. Learn more about the object of a preposition and how you can identify it in a sentence.

First, what is a preposition?

Before we dig into objects, let’s quickly go over what a preposition is. A preposition is a word that comes before a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun. Prepositions are used to indicate timing, direction, space, and location. Some common prepositions include:

To
In
Into
At
On
For
From

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Here are some examples that highlight the importance of prepositions:

She took the train to work.
He crashed into the tree.
Let’s leave at noon.
They walk from school to work.

In the above sentences, the prepositions (bolded) are important because they create a connection between the beginning and the end of the sentence, the action and the object.

Where can you find the object of a preposition?

Finding the object of a preposition is easy. First, identify the preposition in the sentence. As we discussed earlier, the preposition can be words like “in,” “to,” or “at.” Once you find the preposition, look for the noun or pronoun in the sentence. As a reminder, nouns are words that describe a person, place, or thing, while pronouns are words that replace a noun that has already been referenced. The noun or pronoun that comes after the preposition is the object of the preposition.

What is the object of a preposition?

The object of a preposition, also known as a prepositional object, is essential to forming complete sentences. In a sentence, the object of a preposition is a noun or pronoun that comes after a preposition. Here are some examples of the object of a preposition:

He put the blankets on the bed.

In this sentence, “on” is the preposition and “bed” is the object of the preposition. You can tell that it is the object of the preposition because it is the noun that comes after the preposition.

The dog was hiding under the tree.

In this sentence, “under” is the preposition and “tree” is the object of the preposition. You can easily identify that “tree” is the object of the preposition because it is the noun that comes after the preposition.

I rode my bike to the mall.

In this sentence, “to” is the preposition and “mall” is the object of the preposition. You can tell that “mall” is the object of the preposition because it is the noun that follows the preposition.

They put the spoons in the drawer.

In this sentence, “in” is the preposition and “drawer” is the object of the preposition. Since “drawer” is the noun that comes after the preposition, we can tell that it is the object of the preposition.

Why is the object of a preposition important?

Understanding prepositions and the object of a preposition is essential to completing clear prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, the object of a preposition, and any modifiers. Learn more about prepositional phrases today if you want to polish your grammar skills.

Knowing how the object of a preposition can improve a sentence will help you write clearly. Find more writing tips to keep your skills on point.