The noun or pronoun at the end of a prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition that begins the phrase.

EXAMPLES: before lunch
In the hall

COMMONLY USED PREPOSITIONS

about between over
above beyond past
across but (meaning “except”) since
after by through
against concerning throughout
along down to
amid during toward
among except under
around for underneath
at from until
before in unto
behind into up
below like upon
beneath of with
beside off within
besides on without

A group of words may act as a preposition: on account of, in spite of.

THE CONJUNCTION

A conjunction is a word that joins words or group of words.

In the following sentences the conjunctions are printed in bold-faced type; the words or groups of words that the conjunctions join are underscored.

Bring your lunch and one dollar.
You must pass every subject and maintain a good average.
We placed an ad, but no one responded.
I can use the truck or the jeep.
You can either stay here or come with us.
She invited both Martin and me.
I will let you know when I hear from him.
He succeeds because he works hard.

There are three kinds of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

and but or nor for

Correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs.

EXAMPLES:
The work is not only profitable but also pleasant.
Do you know whether he is coming alone or with his parents?

CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

either .. or not only .. but (also)
neither .. nor whether .. or
both .. and

Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin subordinate clauses, usually adverb clauses.
In the following sentences the subordinate clauses are printed in bold-faced type, and the subordinating conjunctions that introduce them are underscored.

There is no use arguing, since you have already made your decision.
We stayed indoors until the storm abated.
You may stay where you are.

A subordinating conjunction need not come between the sentence parts that it joins. It may come at the beginning of the sentence.

Although speed is important, accuracy is more important.
When I take an examination, I become frightened.

COMMONLY USED SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS⁴

after before provided unless
although how since until
as if than when
as much as in order that that where
because inasmuch as though while

THE INTERJECTION

An interjection is a word that express emotion and has no grammatical relation to other words in the sentence.

EXAMPLES: Oh! My goodness! Hurry! Ah! Ouch! Alas!

THE SAME WORD AS DIFFERENT PARTS OF SPEECH

You have already learned that there are many words in English which can be used as more than one part of speech. For example, these may be an adjective (these books) or a pronoun (I want these); blue may be an adjective (the blue car) or a noun (Blue is my favourite colour); Tuesday can be a noun (Tuesday is my birthday) or an adverb (Come Tuesday). There are thousands of words like these which can be classified by part of speech only when you see them in sentences.

EXAMPLES:
The toy soldier was really made of iron. [Iron names a metal; it is a noun.]
We usually iron clothes on Tuesday. [Iron expresses action; it is a verb.]
The iron gate clanged shut. [Iron modifies gate; it is an adjective.]

¹ A predicate adjective is one kind of subject complement.