Elementary School Writing Quiz: Use Prepositional Phrases
20 questions · exam conditions
0:00
Use Prepositional PhrasesQuestion 1 of 20

Choose the correct preposition: "We have music class   Tuesday."​

at
on
in
by
← Back to quizzes

Elementary School Writing Quiz

Elementary School Writing Quiz: Use Prepositional Phrases

Practice Use Prepositional Phrases in Elementary School Writing with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Use Prepositional Phrases, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Elementary School Writing.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Choose the correct preposition: "We have music class   Tuesday."​

  1. at
  2. on (correct answer)
  3. in
  4. by
Explanation: The blank needs a preposition that works with a day of the week. We say "on Tuesday" because "on" is the preposition English uses for specific days. The prepositional phrase "on Tuesday" tells WHEN the music class happens. "At Tuesday" is wrong because "at" is used for clock times, like "at 3:00" or "at noon," not for days. "In Tuesday" is wrong because "in" is used for longer time periods, like "in June" or "in the morning," not for a single day. "By Tuesday" is wrong because "by" means before or up to a deadline, like "finish by Tuesday," but the sentence is telling when class happens, not a deadline. Remember: use "at" for exact times, "in" for months and seasons, and "on" for days and dates.

Question 2

Read the sentence: "Jamal will practice basketball after school." What does the prepositional phrase tell?

  1. the place where he practices
  2. the way that he practices
  3. the time when he practices (correct answer)
  4. the reason why he practices
Explanation: The prepositional phrase "after school" starts with the preposition "after" and ends with the noun "school." It tells the time when Jamal will practice, so the choice about time is correct. The choice about place is wrong because "after school" does not name a location like "on the court." The choice about the way he practices is wrong because it does not describe how, such as "with care." The choice about the reason is wrong because "after school" does not explain why he practices, only when. To find what a prepositional phrase tells, ask questions like Where? When? How? or Why? Here, only When? fits.

Question 3

Read the sentence: "The book on the shelf belongs to Amir." Which prepositional phrase tells which one?

  1. in the story
  2. on the shelf (correct answer)
  3. with a smile
  4. to Amir
Explanation: The phrase "on the shelf" is the prepositional phrase that tells which one. It begins with the preposition "on" and ends with the object "shelf." It points out which book we mean—the one on the shelf, not any other book. That is what "which one" phrases do: they help you spot the exact thing. "To Amir" is a real prepositional phrase, but it tells who owns the book, not which book it is, so it does not answer "which one." "In the story" is also a prepositional phrase, but it is not even in this sentence and does not describe the book here. "With a smile" is a prepositional phrase too, but it tells how someone does something, not which book we mean. Only "on the shelf" identifies the specific book, so it is the best answer.

Question 4

Read the sentence: "Carlos put the folder in his backpack before class." What does the prepositional phrase tell?​

  1. when
  2. how
  3. where (correct answer)
  4. which one
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, "Carlos put the folder in his backpack before class." The prepositional phrase is "in his backpack", which consists of the preposition "in" and the object "his backpack". This phrase tells where because it shows the location of the folder. Choice C is correct because this phrase tells "where" because it shows location. A prepositional phrase must have proper preposition for meaning, which the correct answer has. This phrase tells where because it explains location. Choice A represents wrong function, which occurs when students confuse where and when. "In his backpack" tells where, not when. Prepositional phrases must match the question asked. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 5

Which phrase correctly tells where in this sentence: "Keisha put her shoes  "?

  1. under the bed (correct answer)
  2. very quickly
  3. with great care
  4. before the storm
Explanation: Under the bed is a prepositional phrase that names a location, so it answers where Keisha put her shoes. Very quickly tells how fast she moved, not where the shoes ended up. With great care also tells how she did the action, describing her manner instead of a place. Before the storm is a prepositional phrase too, but it tells when she acted, not where the shoes are. Only under the bed points to an actual spot, so it is the best answer.

Question 6

Complete the sentence with a direction prepositional phrase: "Jamal ran  ."

  1. across the playground (correct answer)
  2. around the bushes
  3. through the tunnel
  4. past the swings
Explanation: Across the playground is correct because it is a complete prepositional phrase that tells where Jamal ran. Around the bushes is a real prepositional phrase too, but it names a different, unrelated place. Through the tunnel and past the swings are also complete prepositional phrases, but they describe places that do not match the rest of the sentence. Only the correct choice fits the direction Jamal actually ran.

Question 7

Jamal ran   during recess. Which phrase correctly completes the sentence with a prepositional phrase that shows direction?

  1. across the playground (correct answer)
  2. very fast today
  3. with his friends
  4. near the playground games
Explanation: The phrase across the playground begins with the preposition across and tells the direction Jamal ran, so it is the best answer. Very fast today tells how fast Jamal ran, not which way he went, so it does not show direction. With his friends is a prepositional phrase, but it tells who Jamal was with, not where he was heading. Near the playground games is also a prepositional phrase, but it tells the place beside where Jamal ran, not the direction he traveled. Only across the playground shows movement from one side to the other.

Question 8

Read the sentence: "Amir found the missing pencil under the desk." Which is the prepositional phrase?

  1. found the pencil
  2. the missing pencil
  3. under the desk (correct answer)
  4. beside missing Amir
Explanation: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, and it usually tells where, when, or how. "Under the desk" is the answer because "under" is a preposition and "the desk" is its object, so the whole phrase tells WHERE Amir found the pencil. "Found the pencil" is not a prepositional phrase; it starts with the verb "found" and tells what Amir did, not where. "The missing pencil" names a thing and describes it, but it has no preposition, so it cannot be a prepositional phrase. "Beside missing Amir" does begin with the preposition "beside," but it scrambles words from the sentence and never forms a real phrase that fits the sentence, so it only looks like a prepositional phrase. To find the real one, look for a preposition first, then check that a noun follows it and that the whole group tells where, when, or how.

Question 9

Read the sentence: "Amir found the missing pencil under the desk." Which is the prepositional phrase?​

  1. with the eraser
  2. for the teacher
  3. under the desk (correct answer)
  4. to the classroom
Explanation: A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun (its object). It adds a detail like where, when, or how. In this sentence, "under the desk" is the prepositional phrase, because "under" is the preposition and "the desk" is the object. It tells WHERE Amir found the pencil, so it is the phrase actually in the sentence. "With the eraser" is a prepositional phrase too, but it does not appear in the sentence, so it is not the answer. "For the teacher" is also a real prepositional phrase, but again those words are not in the sentence. "To the classroom" is another prepositional phrase, yet it is not part of the sentence either. To pick the right answer, first read the sentence carefully, then find the phrase that begins with a preposition AND is really there. Only "under the desk" does both, telling you the location of the pencil.

Question 10

Read the sentence: Sofia walked to the library. Which word is the preposition?

  1. into
  2. walked
  3. quickly
  4. to (correct answer)
Explanation: In this sentence, the word to is the preposition. It comes right before the noun library and shows the relationship between Sofia's walking and where she ended up. The word into is also a preposition, but it does not appear in this sentence, so it cannot be the answer. The word walked is the verb, showing the action Sofia does, not a preposition. The word quickly tells how Sofia walked, so it is describing the action rather than showing a relationship between words. Only to actually appears in the sentence and does a preposition's job of connecting the action to a place.

Question 11

Read the sentence: "Marcus ran through the park to catch up." Which is the prepositional phrase?

  1. ran through the field
  2. through the park (correct answer)
  3. to catch the friend
  4. the busy city park
Explanation: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun that is its object. "Through the park" is correct because "through" is the preposition and "park" is its object, and together they tell WHERE Marcus ran. "Ran through the field" starts with the verb "ran," so it is a verb plus a phrase, not a prepositional phrase by itself. "To catch the friend" looks like it starts with a preposition, but "to catch" is an infinitive (to + a verb), and a preposition needs a noun after it, not a verb. "The busy city park" is only a noun phrase naming a place; it has no preposition to begin it, so it cannot be a prepositional phrase. To find the prepositional phrase, look for the preposition first (like on, in, at, through, to), then find the noun that follows it.

Question 12

Read the sentence: "Maya left her backpack under the desk." Which is the prepositional phrase?

  1. under the desk (correct answer)
  2. left her backpack
  3. under her backpack
  4. her backpack the desk
Explanation: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun called the object. In this sentence, "under the desk" starts with the preposition "under" and ends with the object "desk," and it tells WHERE Maya left her backpack. That makes it the correct prepositional phrase. "Left her backpack" is not a prepositional phrase because it starts with the verb "left" and has no preposition at all. "Under her backpack" does begin with the preposition "under," but these words do not appear together in the sentence, so it is not a phrase pulled from this sentence. "Her backpack the desk" is just a string of nouns with no preposition to begin it, so it cannot be a prepositional phrase. Remember: look for the preposition first, then find the noun that follows it.

Question 13

Read the sentence. How many prepositional phrases are in it? "Carlos walked to the park after school."

  1. 1
  2. 2 (correct answer)
  3. 3
  4. 4
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, 'Carlos walked to the park after school.' There are two prepositional phrases: 'to the park', which consists of the preposition 'to' and the object 'park', telling where; and 'after school', which consists of the preposition 'after' and the object 'school', telling when. Choice B is correct because there are 2 prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase must have complete structure, which both have. Choice A represents undercounting, which occurs when students miss one phrase. Identifying only 1 might happen if confusing direction and time phrases. Prepositional phrases must be counted accurately by finding each preposition and object. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 14

Read the sentence: "Carlos put the folder in his backpack before class." What does the prepositional phrase tell?

  1. when
  2. how
  3. where (correct answer)
  4. which one
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, "Carlos put the folder in his backpack before class." The prepositional phrase is "in his backpack", which consists of the preposition "in" and the object "his backpack". This phrase tells where because it shows the location of the folder. Choice C is correct because this phrase tells "where" because it shows location. A prepositional phrase must have proper preposition for meaning, which the correct answer has. This phrase tells where because it explains location. Choice A represents wrong function, which occurs when students confuse where and when. "In his backpack" tells where, not when. Prepositional phrases must match the question asked. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 15

Read the sentence: "Yuki placed the cups on the table before lunch." How many prepositional phrases are there?

  1. 1
  2. 2 (correct answer)
  3. 3
  4. 4
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, 'Yuki placed the cups on the table before lunch.' The prepositional phrases are 'on the table' (preposition 'on', object 'table') and 'before lunch' (preposition 'before', object 'lunch'). 'On the table' tells where, and 'before lunch' tells when. Choice B is correct because there are two complete prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase must have both preposition and object, which both phrases have. These phrases tell where and when because they show location and time. Choice A represents undercounting, which occurs when students miss one phrase. Identifying only one ignores 'before lunch'. Prepositional phrases must be counted accurately. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 16

Choose the correct preposition: "We will meet   Monday after school."

  1. in
  2. on (correct answer)
  3. at
  4. by
Explanation: The correct answer is "on." We use "on" with days of the week, so "on Monday" is the right prepositional phrase to tell WHEN the meeting happens. "In" is wrong because "in" is used with longer time periods like months or years (in June, in 2024), not with a single day. "At" is wrong because "at" is used with clock times (at 3:00, at noon), not with the name of a day. "By" is wrong because "by" means before a deadline (finish by Monday), so it changes the meaning—it would say the meeting must happen before Monday instead of on that day. A quick trick: for days of the week, always reach for "on."

Question 17

Read the sentence: "Maya left her lunch on the cafeteria table." Which is the prepositional phrase?

  1. for her whole class
  2. on the cafeteria table (correct answer)
  3. the noisy cafeteria table
  4. Maya left her lunch
Explanation: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with its object (a noun or pronoun), and it adds a detail like where, when, or how. "On the cafeteria table" is the answer: it starts with the preposition "on" and ends with the object "table," telling WHERE Maya left her lunch. "For her whole class" is a real prepositional phrase, but it does not appear in this sentence, so it cannot be the phrase from the sentence you read. "The noisy cafeteria table" is part of the sentence and names a thing, but it has no preposition at the front, so it is only a noun group, not a prepositional phrase. "Maya left her lunch" is the subject and verb part of the sentence; it tells who did something and what they did, but it has no preposition, so it is not a prepositional phrase. To find a prepositional phrase, look for a preposition first (on, in, at, under, with, for), then find the noun that follows it.

Question 18

Read the sentence: "Sofia walked to the library with her class." Which word is the preposition?​

  1. walked
  2. library
  3. class
  4. to (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, "Sofia walked to the library with her class." The prepositional phrase is "to the library", which consists of the preposition "to" and the object "the library". This phrase tells where because it shows the direction or location. Choice D is correct because "to" is the preposition that begins the phrase. A prepositional phrase must have proper preposition for meaning, which the correct answer has. Choice A represents wrong part identified, which occurs when students identify verb as preposition. "Walked" is a verb, not a preposition. Prepositional phrases must use correct preposition for context. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 19

Read the sentence: "Marcus read a book about space during reading time." Which is the prepositional phrase?​

  1. read a
  2. a book
  3. reading time
  4. about space (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests CCSS.L.4.1.e: forming and using prepositional phrases. Students must recognize prepositional phrases (preposition + object) and understand how they add details about location, time, direction, or relationships. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (on, in, at, under, over, before, after, with, to, from, about, etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object. Examples: 'on the table' (on = preposition, table = object), 'at noon' (at = preposition, noon = object), 'with my friend' (with = preposition, friend = object). Prepositional phrases add important details to sentences, usually telling WHERE (location: on the roof), WHEN (time: after school), WHICH ONE (the book on the shelf), or HOW (manner: with care). In this sentence, "Marcus read a book about space during reading time." The prepositional phrase is "about space", which consists of the preposition "about" and the object "space". This phrase tells which one because it identifies the topic of the book. Choice D is correct because "about space" is the complete prepositional phrase including both preposition and object. A prepositional phrase must have both preposition and object, which the correct answer has. Choice C represents wrong part identified, which occurs when students confuse phrases. "Reading time" is part of another phrase but not the underlined one. Prepositional phrases must be complete. To help students: Teach that prepositional phrases = preposition + object (noun/pronoun), often with article or adjective (in the big box). Create lists of common prepositions by category: LOCATION (on, in, at, under, over, behind, beside, next to, between, near), TIME (at, on, in, before, after, during, until), DIRECTION (to, into, through, across, up, down, around), OTHER (of, about, with, for, by, from). Practice finding prepositional phrases by looking for preposition first, then finding its object. Teach what phrases tell: WHERE (The cat is on the roof), WHEN (We eat at noon), WHICH ONE (The book on the shelf), HOW (solved with care). Watch for: identifying just preposition without object ('on' not complete), including too much (whole sentence instead of just phrase), confusing prepositions (in/on/at for time especially tricky: at 3:00, on Monday, in June), thinking 'to' in infinitives (to run) is prepositional (needs noun after, not verb). Have students ask 'Where?' 'When?' about sentences to find prepositional phrases answering these questions.

Question 20

Choose the correct preposition: "We have art class   Tuesday."

  1. at
  2. in
  3. on (correct answer)
  4. by
Explanation: The word we need shows WHEN art class happens. For days of the week, the correct preposition is "on," so "on Tuesday" is right. It tells the time (the day) that class meets. "At" is used for clock times, like "at 3:00" or "at noon," not for a day of the week, so "at Tuesday" does not fit. "In" is used for longer times like months or years, such as "in June" or "in 2024," so "in Tuesday" is not correct. "By" means before or no later than a time, like "finish by Tuesday." It changes the meaning to a deadline instead of when class regularly happens, so it does not fit here. Tip: use "at" for exact times, "on" for days and dates, and "in" for months, seasons, and years.