We use prepositions to add different types of information in a sentence.

We put a noun after a preposition to form a prepositional phrase. In grammar, we call the noun after a preposition the object of the preposition.

in Central
The noun 中環 zung1 waan4 is put after the preposition 喺 hai2. 喺中環 hai2 zung1 waan4 as a whole is a prepositional phrase.

with friend(s)
The noun 朋友 pang4 jau5 is put after the preposition 同 tung4. 同朋友 tung4 pang4 jau5 as a whole is a prepositional phrase.

We put a prepositional phrase before the verb we want to modify.

I work in Central.
The prepositional phrase 喺中環 hai2 zung1 waan4 is put before the verb 返工 faan1 gung1.

I play basketball with my friend(s).
The prepositional phrase 同朋友 tung4 pang4 jau5 is put before the verb 打波 daa2 bo1.

Since prepositions share some similarities with verbs in Cantonese, they are also called coverbs. We will use the term prepositions in this book.