Prepositions: dipper
The Grammar Bit!
Read the three sentences opposite. They each contain a preposition (bold). Prepositions are special words (or phrases) that show relationships between things, people or events.
In the first sentence, the preposition ‘behind’ tells us where the dippers built their nest in relation to the waterfall. Other place prepositions include among, beneath, in front of, inside, below and above.
The second sentence uses the preposition ‘after’ to tell us the time relationship between the female dipper bobbing up and down and waterproofing her feathers. Other prepositions for time include during, in, at and before.
The final sentence includes the preposition ‘towards’ to tell us the direction the male dipper flew in relation to his chicks. Around, through, and between are other direction prepositions.
With your talk partner, see if you can say each sentence aloud with a different preposition from the lists above.
Scintillating Sentences
1) The dippers built their nest behind the waterfall.
2) After bobbing up and down several times, the female dipper waterproofed her feathers with a natural oil.
2) The male dipper flew towards his chicks so that he could give them a mouthful of mayfly nymphs and caddisfly larvae.
Did you know?
The dipper can stay underwater for 30 seconds.