Lesson 5: Use of Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Articles

🟦 Introduction

Can you tell the difference between “I sat on the chair” and “I sat in the chair”? Or why we say “a university” instead of “an university”?

These small but powerful words — prepositions, conjunctions, and articles — help us build smooth, correct, and meaningful sentences. They’re everywhere in English, and WAEC often tests how well you use them in context.

This lesson will help you master:

• The correct use of prepositions (place, time, direction, etc.)

• How conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses

• When to use “a,” “an,” and “the” — and when not to

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. Prepositions

Prepositions show relationships between words — usually direction, time, place, or cause.

A. Prepositions of Place

B. Prepositions of Time

C. Prepositions of Direction/Movement

D. Common Preposition Phrases

• according to

• instead of

• in spite of

• because of

🔔 Avoid ending a sentence with a preposition in formal writing:
❌ Where are you at?
✔ Where are you?

2. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.

A. Coordinating Conjunctions – FANBOYS

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

• She was tired, but she continued.

• Would you like tea or coffee?

B. Subordinating Conjunctions

Connect a dependent clause to an independent one.

Examples: although, because, if, when, since, while

• She left because she was late.

• If he studies, he will pass.

C. Correlative Conjunctions

Work in pairs: both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also

• Both the teacher and the students were tired.

• Neither Jane nor her friends came.

3. Articles

Articles are words that introduce nouns. They are of two types:

A. Definite Article: the

• Used for specific nouns: The sun, the president, the book on the table

B. Indefinite Articles: a, an

• a → used before words that begin with a consonant sound
  a book, a teacher, a university

• an → used before words that begin with a vowel sound
  an egg, an hour, an honest person

🧠 Tip: It’s the sound, not the letter, that matters.
✔ an hour (starts with vowel sound)
✔ a university (starts with “yoo” sound)

🟨 Practice Exercises

✏️ Exercise 1: Fill in the Correct Preposition

1. We met ______ the library at noon. (in/on/at)

2. She jumped ______ the pool. (in/into/onto)

3. He has been living here ______ 2010. (since/for/from)

4. The keys are ______ the drawer. (in/on/at)

5. He left ______ anger. (in/on/with)

✏️ Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Conjunction

6. I was tired, ______ I kept working.
   A. but
   B. so
   C. and
   D. because

7. ______ she studied hard, she failed the test.
   A. Because
   B. Although
   C. So
   D. If

8. You can have ______ tea or coffee.
   A. both
   B. either
   C. neither
   D. any

9. Neither the boy ______ the girl knew the answer.
   A. or
   B. and
   C. nor
   D. but

10. She was not only beautiful ______ also intelligent.
    A. but
    B. and
    C. yet
    D. but also

✏️ Exercise 3: Article Usage

Choose the correct article (a, an, the, or — for no article).

11. She is reading ______ interesting book.

12. ______ sun rises in the east.

13. We saw ______ elephant at the zoo.

14. He wants to be ______ engineer.

15. She never eats ______ rice in the morning.

✅ Answers and Explanations

Exercise 1: Prepositions

1. at – specific place/time

2. into – shows movement

3. since – starting point of time

4. in – inside something

5. in – expression: “in anger”

Exercise 2: Conjunctions
6. A. but – contrast
7. B. although – unexpected result
8. B. either – one or the other
9. C. nor – used with “neither”
10. D. but also – correlative conjunction

Exercise 3: Articles
11. an – “interesting” starts with vowel sound
12. the – specific and unique noun
13. an – “elephant” starts with vowel sound
14. an – “engineer” starts with vowel sound
15. — – uncountable noun, no article needed

🔁 Recap

You’ve learned:

• How to use prepositions to show time, place, and direction

• The three main types of conjunctions (coordinating, subordinating, correlative)

• When to use definite and indefinite articles

• How to avoid article and preposition errors in writing

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Write a short paragraph (4–5 lines) describing your last school day.
Use at least:

• Three different prepositions

• Two conjunctions

• Two articles (a, an, or the)

Underline the prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in your paragraph.