1. Place:
* On: The book is on the table. (Indicates a position on a surface)
* In: The cat is in the box. (Indicates a position within a space)
* Under: The ball is under the bed. (Indicates a position below something)
2. Time:
* Before: We arrived before the show started. (Indicates a point in time prior to another event)
* After: The rain stopped after the sun came out. (Indicates a point in time following another event)
* During: The phone rang during dinner. (Indicates a period of time that encompasses another event)
3. Movement:
* To: I went to the store. (Indicates a destination)
* From: We came from the beach. (Indicates an origin)
* Through: The train traveled through the tunnel. (Indicates movement within a space)
4. Manner:
* By: I sent the letter by mail. (Indicates a means or method)
* With: She opened the door with a key. (Indicates an instrument or tool used)
Note: Some prepositions can have multiple functions. For example, "on" can be used to indicate place ("the book is on the table") or time ("the meeting is on Tuesday").