Here are some examples of sentences in the above exercises from which the preposition has been taken away by the teacher:
To give the child an idea of the normal position of prepositions a series of permutations may be made leaving the preposition and its object in their normal positions. In this case some meaning is still left to the sentence:
Stretch a string from the door to the window.
From the door to the window stretch a string.
Stretch from the door a string to the window.
From the door to the window a string stretch.
From the door stretch to the window a string.
But the child will recognize that the right sentence is the simplest and the clearest:
Stretch a string from the door to the window.
On the other hand if we separate the preposition from its object or invert their normal position, the meaning is entirely lost:
Stretch a string the door from the window to.
Stretch a string from the door window to the.
String from the stretch door to the a window.
Run wash-stand table (_definition of motion lacking_).
The teacher may also take groups of children and give them short lessons on the preposition to explain the meaning, selecting if possible two or three synonyms or antonyms each time. The lessons should always he practical and full of action. The child should come to understand in this case the relationship established by this or that preposition between the object (noun) and the action (verb) to be performed. As soon as this has been made clear by the teacher the commands are distributed to the children who put them into execution. Here is the material that we use:
--Go and get a boxful _of_ counters. Go and get a glass _of_ water. Bring me a piece _of_ cloth.
near (to), next (to), beside, far away from (vicino, accosto, lontano).
--One of you boys stand in the middle of the room. Now you others go and stand _near_ him. One of you stand _next_ to him on the right, another _beside_ him on the left. Now all go _far away from_ him.
in, into, inside, out of (in, dentro, fuori).
--Rise from your chairs and go _into_ the next room. Stay _in_ that room a moment and then come back _into_ this one. Go back on tip-toe and lock yourselves _inside_ the next room. Come _out of_ the next room _into_ this one.