2. Prepositions
Prepositions are words that show where
someone or something is, or tells when
something is happening. They can also be used
to show a few other relationships, such as to
whom you give something, or if you do
something with or without something else.
3. Common prepositions
about above across after against along
amid among around at atop before
behind below beneath beside between beyond
but (meaning except) by concerning down during except
for from in inside into like
near of off on onto out
outside over past regarding since through
throughout to toward under underneath until
up upon with within without
4. Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a phrase (group of words)
that includes AT LEAST a preposition and a noun or
pronoun, which is known as the object of the
preposition. It is not important to know this
terminology, but this is an important concept to
understand.
When using a pronoun as part of a prepositional
phrase, make sure that it is in the objective case.
5. Prepositions in Idioms
Many prepositions have to be used in a certain way with
certain phrases. This is not because one preposition is
grammatically more correct, but because certain phrases in
English are idiomatically correct because they have always
been said a certain way.
For example, we would say: “She fell in love with him.” We
would never say, “She fell towards love at him.”
We would say, “He is hard at work.” We would never say, “He
is hard in work” with the same meaning in mind.
6. Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that link ideas
together. There are three main types of
conjunctions: coordinating, subordinate, and
correlative.
7. Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are probably the
conjunctions that you are most familiar with.
There are seven: for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
and so.
You can remember these with the acronym
FANBOYS
8. Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions can be used to join similar words,
phrases, or clauses. The most commonly used conjunction is
“and”.
Examples
Joining words: John and Kim went to the store.
Joining phrases: The mouse ran out the door and through the
garden.
Joining clauses: The mouse ran out the door, and I followed
it.
9. Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions can also be used to join two
independent clauses. An independent clause is something that
can stand on its own as a sentence.
Example
subject+verb +CONJ + subject+ verb
The professor paced, but the student sat quietly.
“The professor paced” and “The student sat quietly” could
both be independent sentences.
10. Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a
dependent clause to an independent clause. An
independent clause is a clause that can stand on its
own as a sentence - it expresses a complete thought. A
subordinate clause is a clause that cannot be sentence
on its own.
11. Subordinating Conjunctions
Usually, a subordinate clause will describe either the
background circumstances of the independent clause, or will
give more detail about one part of the independent clause.
There are a lot of subordinate conjunctions, but some of the
more common ones include.
after, although, because, even though, if, once, since,
though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while
12. Using Subordinating Conjunctions
You can use the following structures to form sentences
with dependent and independent clauses:
(subordinating conjunction + dependent clause) ,
(independent clause).
Example
Since she loved chocolate, she ate the whole box of
candy.
13. Using Subordinating Conjunctions
(independent clause) + (subordinating conjunction + dependent
clause).
Example: She ate the whole box of candy because she loves
chocolate.
Sometimes, a subordinate conjunction and dependent clause can
come in between parts of the independent clause.
Example: Sonja, because she loves chocolate, eats it every
chance she gets.
14. Correlative Conjunctions
These are very similar to coordinating conjunctions, but they
must always be used in pairs. These pairs are worth memorizing
because occasionally the ACT will test these to see if you
know which words belong together.
both...and
either...or
neither…nor
not only...but also
whether...or
15. Examples of Correlative Conjunctions
Both my sister and I went to the park.
Do you either want to go dancing or go to the gym?
The soup contains neither onions nor garlic.
16. Best overall tip for conjunctions
The ACT like to test parallel structure in sentences. When
two or more things are linked by a conjunction, remember that
they should have the same general structure.
Example:
Mike likes biking and to swim. INCORRECT
Mike likes biking and swimming. CORRECT
Mike likes to bike and to swim. CORRECT
