1. Place/Position: These prepositions indicate location or position in space. Examples: *on, in, at, above, below, beside, between, among, near, opposite*.
2. Time: These prepositions show when something happens. Examples: *at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until, by*.
3. Direction/Movement: These prepositions indicate the direction or movement of something. Examples: *to, towards, into, onto, from, through, across, along*.
4. Manner/Means: These prepositions describe how something is done or the means by which it's accomplished. Examples: *by, with, without, via, through*.
5. Relationship/Association: This is a catch-all category for prepositions that express a relationship or association between things. Examples: *of, about, concerning, regarding, according to, despite, except, like*.
It's important to remember that some prepositions can fit into multiple categories depending on context. For example, "on" can indicate time (on Monday) or place (on the table). This flexibility is a characteristic of prepositions.