Summary

Connects noun phrase to another part of the sentence. (or) Prepositions tell us where or when something(one noun/pronoun or noun phrase) is in relation to something else(noun/pronoun or noun phrase).

  • preposition means “place before”, it usually placed before noun phrase.

  • grammar blue book: no preposition without its object.

Details

Prepositions often tell us where one noun is in relation to another (e.g., The coffee is on the table beside you). But they can also indicate more abstract ideas, such as purpose or contrast (e.g., We went for a walk despite the rain).

Examples

  1. Mark is in the kitchen. in -> preposition kitchen -> object of the preposition
  2. I am going to London for a week. to -> preposition week -> object
  3. Please don’t talk during the lesson. during -> preposition lesson -> object

Types

Prepositions indicate direction, time, location, and spatial relationships, as well as other abstract types of relationships.

Direction

Look to the left and you’ll see our destination.

Time

We’ve been working since this morning.

Location

We saw a movie at the theater.

Space

The dog hid under the table.