1. All About Prepositions.
The relationship words!

2. The purpose of a preposition is to show a relationship between two words, objects, or people in a sentence. They can show direction, time, spatial relations, etc..
We are worried about Dave.
In this sentence about bridges worried and Dave.
Dave went around the school.
In this sentence around demonstrates the relationship between Dave and the school.

3. Some Common Prepositions
about by over
above down round
across for to
after from toward
against in under
along inside underneath
among into up
around near with
as of within
at off
beside on
between onto
beyond outside

4. Here’s a hint…
A lot of prepositions have to do with relationships and space. Imagine a squirrel and a tree. The possible positions the squirrel can have in relationship to the trees are most likely prepositions. (This is just a simple memory trick. There are many other prepositions.)
under the tree
ran into the tree
ran to the tree
ran inside the tree
up the tree
in the tree
around the tree
ran through the branches

5. Lesser Known Prepositions
as early as via
as late as
as often as
as much as
as many as
circa
concerning
considering
less
Minus
till

6. Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase contains the preposition and a noun, pronoun, or clause.
He is normally hungry around this time.
She ran into the tree.
Meet me beside the mall.
We don’t go to the movies as often as you do.

7. The function of Prepositional Phrases
These phrases function as an adjective (Which one?) or adverb (How? When? Where?).
The kids in the class were happy. (Which one)
We had dinner at Sarah’s house. (Where)
We went swimming before the storm. (When)
Please note that the prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of the sentence.