A simple way to make better sentences

Note-taking time!
y Lets get out some paper for Cornell notes. y Topic: Prepositional Phrases

What is a prepositional phrase?

y A Prepositional Phrase (P.P.) = a preposition +

(describing words) + a noun or a pronoun y Describing words are not necessary but always make things more interesting

I dont get it.

What is a preposition?
y Prepositions help link words together in sentences. y Think of a preposition as everywhere a cat can go!

y There are 40 common prepositions (yes, you have to

write all of these down):

y P 204 Measuring Up

What is a noun?
y A person, place, thing, or idea

What is a pronoun?
y A word that takes the place of a person, place, thing, or

idea y Examples I, you, he, she, we, they

So how do we make a prepositional phrase?

Pick a preposition word
Example with

Pick a noun
Example car

Put them together

With the car

TADA

Now with describing words

y Our P.P. = with the car y We can describe the car y Red car y Fast car y Rusty car y Our new P.P. = with the fast, red, rusty car

A note of special interest

y When you start your sentence with a prepositional

phrase (or ten), they need to be separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence. They are snobby when they get to lead the way.

The snobs
y In the morning, I will mow the lawn. y Behind the house, you will find a tree. y In Ms. Fotis class, you will find lots of craziness.

Big Hair Style 3: The Texan (without prepositions and P.P.) from Kinky Friedmans Guide to Texas Etiquette

y Take the teasing comb and back-comb all your hair. To

tease your hair, grab a small section and hold it. Comb downward. Pull the teased hair. Liberally apply the hair spray. If you can still see the walls, you havent sprayed enough. Spray more. All these styles must be taken care of while you sleep. Some women use the beehive hairnet; others use feather pillows; while still others sleep upright. Your mileage may vary. Just be careful not to put anyones eye out.

Big Hair Style 3: The Texan (with prepositions and P.P.) from Kinky Friedmans Guide to Texas Etiquette
y Take the teasing comb and back-comb all your hair until it looks like an electrified Persian cat. To tease your hair, grab a small section and hold it up by the end. Comb downward with the teasing comb in short fast strokes until it gets tangled at the bottom. Pull the teased hair up and out to achieve maximum altitude. Liberally apply the hair spray to hold the teased hair in place. If you can still see the walls, you havent sprayed enough. Spray more. All these styles must be taken care of while you sleep. Some women use the beehive hairnet; others use feather pillows to sleep upon; while still others sleep upright in the La-Z-Boy. Your mileage may vary. Just be careful not to put anyones eye out.

Lets play
y Use the word cards and pictures to create prepositional

phrases. y Make a list of at least ten.

Lets practice
y Divide a blank piece of paper into two columns y Label the left hand column MY ORIGINAL

SENTENCE. y Label the right hand column MY NEW SENTENCE.

Lets practice!
y Choose weak sentences from any of your papers from

this year. y Write them in the left hand column. y Rewrite them in the right hand column with added prepositional phrases for detail and depth. y Try rewriting them with the prepositional phrases moved to the beginning of the sentence, as well.