Functions of prepositions in the english language

Before I discovered this bar, I used to go straight home after work.

We will not leave before 3pm.

David comes before Bryan in the line, but after Louise.

Other prepositions of time may include: During, about, around, until and through.

• 
  The concert will be staged throughout the month of May.
  
• 
  I learned how to ski during the holidays.
  
• 
  He usually arrives around 3pm.
  
• 
  It was about six in the morning when we made it to bed.
  
• 
  The store is open until midnight.
  

Prepositions of Place

The most common prepositions for indicating time are: - on, at, in - they are also the most common prepositions for indicating position. However, the rules are a little clearer, since the prepositions of the place are a tougher concept than the pretexts of time.

• 
  The cat is on the table.
  
• 
  The dogs are in the kennel.
  
• 
  We can meet at the crossroads.
  

"On" is used when referring to something with a surface:

• 
  The sculpture hangs on the wall.
  
• 
  The images are on the page.
  
• 
  The specials are on the menu, which is on the table.   
  

"In" is used when accessing what is inside or inside closed boundaries. It can be anything, even a country:

1. 
   Jim is in France, visiting his aunt in the hospital.
   
2. 
   The whiskey is in the jar in the fridge.
   
3. 
   The girls play in the garden.
   

"At" is used when referring to something at a specific point:

1. 
   The boys are at the entrance at the movie theater.
   
2. 
   He stood at the bus stop at the corner of Water and High streets.
   
3. 
   We will meet at the airport.
   

Many other prepositions of the place, such as under, over, inside, outside, above and below are used in English. However, there is much less confusion, since they relate to rigid positions, and not to abstract ones.

• 
  The cat is under the table.
  
• 
  Put the sandwich over there.
  
• 
  The key is locked inside the car.
  
• 
  They stepped outside the house.
  
• 
  Major is ranked above corporal.
  
• 
  He is waving at you from below the stairs.