In the sentence, "Lei dropped her books on the counter," on is functioning as a(n) preposition .

In the sentence, "Lei turned the light on," on is functioning as a(n) adverb .

Question

In the sentence, "Lei dropped her books on the counter," on is functioning as a(n) preposition .

In the sentence, "Lei turned the light on," on is functioning as a(n) adverb .

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The task presents two mini-claims about how the word on functions in different sentences, each requiring assessment of its grammatical role.

First item: 'Lei dropped her books on the counter' where 'on the counter' follows the verb drop and introduces the location of the books. In this construction, 'on' combines with a noun phrase to form a prepositional phrase that specifies where the action took place. The function of the preposition 'on' here is to establish spatial relation (location) rather than modifying a verb directly or indicating manner. Therefore, labeling 'on' as a preposition aligns with standard grammar analysis for prepositional phrases that express location.

Second item: 'Lei turned the light on' where 'on' comes at the end of the verb phrase and is commonly described as modifying the verb 'turned' to indicate that the light should be activated. In many grammatical analyses, this use of 'on' is called a particle in a phrasal verb (turn on). When 'on' attaches to the verb to form a larger predicate that denotes a completed action or a state resulting from the action, some grammars categorize 'on' as an adverbial particle. The classification as an adverb (or adverbial particle) reflects its function of affecting the verb and the overall action rather than serving a purely spatial relationship as a separate prepositional phrase would. Concretely, since there is no object of the preposition after 'on' in this sentence (unlike 'on the switch' or 'on the page'), the particle-function reading is often favored, which is described in some analyses as adverbial or particle use.

Now, considering common alternatives and misunderstandings:
- If someone insisted the second 'on' is a preposition, they might argue it introduces a location or direction, but here there is no complement after 'on' to form a standard locative phrase; the surface structure strongly points to a phrasal verb interpretation where 'on' behaves as a particle affecting the verb rather than serving as a separate preposition with its own object. This supports the adverb/particle labeling.
- If one argued the first 'on' were an adverb, that reading would be less natural because the prepositional phrase 'on the counter' clearly provides a noun phrase complement specifying location; adverbs typically modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs without requiring a noun phrase. The presence of the NP 'the counter' after 'on' pins it as a preposition rather than an adverb.
- Another potential misconception is treating both instances uniformly as prepositions or adverbs; the function shifts with the sentence: the first denotes spatial relation (preposition), while the second operates as a particle associated with the verb phrase (adverb/particle). These are distinct grammatical roles and match typical analyses in grammar of English phrasal verbs versus prepositional phrases.

CLA 030 001 SQ 2025 Worksheet 3

In the sentence, "Lei dropped her books on the counter," on is functioning as a(n) preposition . In the sentence, "Lei turned the light on," on is functioning as a(n) adverb .

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