Prepositions: sulphur-crested cockatoo
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 ‘on’ tells us where the cockatoo was, in relation to the windowsill, as it attempted to break into the flat. Other place prepositions include among, beneath, in front of, inside, below and above.
The second sentence uses the preposition ‘while‘ to tell us the time relationship between the house being unsupervised and the cockatoo being destructive. Other prepositions for time include during, after, before, in and at.
The final sentence includes the preposition ‘around’ to tell us the direction in which the flat-owner moved, in relation to the cockatoo. Towards, through, and between are other prepositions of direction.
With your talk partner, see if you can say each sentence aloud with a different preposition from the lists above.
Scintillating Sentences
1) Balancing precariously on a windowsill, the mischievous sulphur-crested cockatoo attempts to break into the apartment.
2) While the house is left unsupervised, the intelligent cockatoo seizes the opportunity for some destructive play.
3) The owner of the property moved around the devious cockatoo warily because its raised crest was an aggressive warning sign.
Did you know?
Sulphur-crested cockatoos are able to synchronize their movements to musical beats. Rock on!