3rd Grade Identifying Prepositions Worksheets
A preposition connects a noun to the rest of the sentence, usually telling where, when, or how: across the field, during recess, with a flashlight. Third graders find prepositions quickly once they learn the common set, and they start noticing the whole phrase that follows.
Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core L.4.1.e. One skill per page, answer key on page two.
Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.
The kind of sentences you'll get
Underline every preposition in each sentence.
-
Fog covered the quiet harbor in the morning.
Answer: in
- The kids are squeezing lemons for the stand.
- Rosa sprinkled shredded cheese over her steaming enchiladas.
Every print draws a fresh mix of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Identify. Underline every preposition in each sentence. 12 questions per page.
- Multiple choice. Circle the letter of the word that is a preposition. 10 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Have students find the preposition, then bracket the whole phrase to its end: "across [the muddy field]." Seeing the phrase keeps them from tagging random small words, because a real preposition always has a partner noun. Time words (during, after, before) deserve a day of their own; kids find place words first and stall on time words.
Watch for: Many prepositions are tiny words (in, on, at, of), so students read past them. Small doesn't mean unimportant. A preposition always has a partner noun after it: under the porch, with my friend. If there's no partner, it's working as a different part of speech.
Common questions about identifying prepositions
- How do I explain a prepositional phrase?
- The preposition plus its partner words: "under the old bridge" is a prepositional phrase made of the preposition "under" and the noun part "the old bridge." Have your student bracket the whole phrase. It makes the grammar visible instead of abstract.
- Is "to" always a preposition?
- No. In "we walked to school," it's a preposition. In "we like to read," it's part of the verb. The test: a preposition's partner is a noun (to school), while the verb form pairs with an action word (to read). Third graders can handle this once they've bracketed phrases.
Related worksheets
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Aligned to Common Core L.4.1.e. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.