The verb-preposition 靠
靠 has several meanings.
"To lean on", "to rely on"
The verb-preposition 靠 
emphasizes that a person physically leans on something.
emphasizes that a person physically leans on something. Pay attention
着 or 在 are placed after 靠.
or 在 are placed after 靠.
Scheme
subject
靠
着/在
complement
on what?
(predicate)
Examples
王老师喜欢靠着桌子讲课
The teacher Wang likes to teach lessons leaning on a table
wáng lǎoshī xǐhuan kàozhe zhuōzi jiǎngkè
她轻轻地靠在他的肩上
She leaned gently against his shoulder
tā qīngqīng de kào zài tā de jiān shàng
靠 is also used in a figurative sense. It indicates that a person relies on someone or something emotionally or financially.
Examples
在家靠父母，出门靠朋友
At home you rely on your parents, outside the house you rely on your friends
zài jiā kào fùmǔ, chūmén kào péngyou
我后半辈子的生活全靠你了
The rest of my life will depend entirely on you
wǒ hòu bàn bèizi de shēnghuó quán kào nǐ le
他靠卖报纸发家
He became rich selling newspapers
tā kào mài bàozhǐ fā jiā
全家靠他一个人
The whole family lives on his salary
quán jiā kào tā yí ge rén
"By"
靠 emphasizes that one object is located in immediate proximity to another object.
Examples
我想要一个靠窗的座位
I’d like a window seat
wó xiǎng yào yí gè kào chuāng de zuòwèi
靠着大路开店
To open a shop by the road
kàozhe dàlù kāidiàn