Definition

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence, often indicating direction, place, time, cause, manner, or possession.

Common Prepositions and Examples

• Place/Location: in, on, at, under, above, near, between
  • The keys are on the table.

  • She lives near the school.

• Time: before, after, during, until, since
  • We will start after lunch.

  • He has lived here since 2010.

• Direction/Movement: to, from, into, onto, toward
  • She went to the market.

  • He came from the office.

    
    

• Cause/Purpose: because of, due to, for
  • The game was canceled because of rain.

  • They were late due to traffic.

• Manner/Means: by, with, like
  • She wrote the letter with a pen.

  • He traveled by train.
    

Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object (noun or pronoun), and any modifiers of the object. It functions as an adjective or adverb.

• She sat on the chair.

• We walked through the park.