What is the grammatical function of preposition?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) and another word in the sentence. It essentially tells us *where*, *when*, *how*, or *why* something is happening.

Here's how to understand its grammatical function:

1. Prepositions are NOT part of the verb phrase: They are separate words that come *before* their object.

2. Prepositions introduce phrases: A preposition and its object form a "prepositional phrase" that acts as a single unit within the sentence.

3. Prepositional phrases can function as:

* Adjectives: They modify nouns or pronouns by providing more information about them.

* Example: "The book on the table is mine." ("on the table" modifies "book")

* Adverbs: They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by providing information about how, when, where, or why something happens.

* Example: "He walked through the park." ("through the park" modifies "walked")

Here are some examples of prepositional phrases:

* in the box

* at the store

* with my friend

* before lunch

* because of the rain

Overall: Prepositions connect words and ideas in a sentence, adding depth and clarity to the meaning.