A preposition in English grammar is a word employed with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase, a prepositional phrase.
Prepositional phrases express meaning closely related to the meaning expressed by adverbs and adjectives: where,
when, how, and what kind. Prepositional phrases can also express a sense of why or who.
"He's
in the jailhouse now." (where)
The word in is a preposition. The word jailhouse is a noun. The
noun is called the object of the preposition. This prepositional phrase provides a sense of location, a sense of where something is located.
The quoted words are part of a song from the movie, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
I put your book
in my locker. (where)
I am
in my car, and I have a flat tire. (where)
Yesterday, I was
at the beach. (where)
The road runs
through a tunnel. (where)
Your pencil is
on the floor
under your desk. (where)
I shall be home
by Friday. (when)
Meet me
between classes. (when)
It was the beginning
of summer. (when)
I will be there
for a week. (duration of time)
He was arrested
for jaywalking. (why)
I came
with Camile. (who)
With perseverance she will become the best gymnast. (how)
I was
with her when the announcement was made. (who)
I want a candy bar
with peanuts. (what kind)
displaced prepositions
Which lot did you park the car
in? (You parked the car
in which lot?)
She is someone I could work
with. (I could work
with her.)
What does your dog look
like? (Your dog looks
like what?)
Whom would you like to be stranded on a tropical isle
with?
Juanita is the girl I would like to be stranded
with.
NOTE. Although we frequently use displaced
prepositions in casual conversation, displaced prepositions are rarely used in carefully crafted documents.