Definition of a Preposition

A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the sentence.
There are approximately 80 to 100 prepositions in the English language. Prepositions are words that introduce information to the reader. This information can include where something takes place (such as ‘at’ the store), when or why something takes place (such as ‘before’ dinner), or general descriptive information (such as the girl ‘with’ the cool tattoo).

The book about the wizard

The book by the wizard

The book near the wizard

The book behind the wizard

The book under the wizard

Here is a list of common prepositions:

above, about, across, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, since, to, toward, through, under, until, up, upon, with and within.

The Role of a Preposition

A preposition precedes a noun (or a pronoun) to show the noun’s (or the pronoun’s) relationship to another word in the sentence. In the examples above, the preposition preceded the noun wizard to show that noun’s relationship with the noun.

Here are some more examples:

It is a container for butter.

(The preposition for shows the relationship between butter and container.)

The eagle soared above the clouds.

(The preposition above shows the relationship between clouds and soared.)

He is the President of the United States.

(The preposition of shows the relationship between the United States and President.)

A preposition is used to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object.

Few examples are:-

to the office

at the desk

on the table

in an hour

about myself
Here are a few common prepositions and examples.

On

Used to express a surface of something:

I put an egg on the kitchen table.

The paper is on my desk.

Used to specify days and dates:

The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.

I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.

At

Used to point out specific time:

I will meet you at 12 p.m.

The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

Used to indicate a place:

There is a party at the club house.

There were hundreds of people at the park.

We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

In

Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:

She always reads newspapers in the morning.

In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.

The new semester will start in March.

Used to indicate a location or place:

She looked me directly in the eyes.

I am currently staying in a hotel.

My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.