Think of prepositions as words that answer these questions:
* Where? _in_ the box, _on_ the table, _under_ the bed
* When? _before_ the party, _during_ the game, _after_ dinner
* How? _by_ car, _with_ a smile, _without_ a sound
* Why? _for_ you, _because_ of the rain, _from_ exhaustion
Here are some common prepositions:
* Time: at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until, by
* Place: in, on, at, under, over, above, below, behind, beside, near, between, across, through, around, to, from
* Direction: to, from, towards, into, out of, onto, off
* Other: of, with, without, by, for, about, like, according to, instead of, despite, except, including
Examples:
* The cat sat on the mat. (Where?)
* I went to the store after work. (When?)
* He walked towards the door. (Direction?)
* She smiled at him. (Relationship between "she" and "him")
Prepositional Phrases:
Prepositions often form a phrase with their object and any modifiers. This is called a prepositional phrase.
* The book on the table (prepositional phrase)
* We went to the park after school (prepositional phrase)
Prepositions are important for creating clear and concise sentences. They add meaning and context to your writing.