The word 'preposition' means place before – pre-position. Prepositions are commonly used to show a relationship in space or time or a logical relationship between two or more people, places or things. Prepositions are most commonly followed by a noun, pronoun, pronoun or gerund (italicised):

• The last time I saw him he was walking down the road.
• I’ll meet you in the cafe opposite the cinema.
• It was difficult to sleep during the flight.
• It was the worst storm since the 1980s.
• Give that to me.