A prepositional phrase is a group of words that functions as a preposition. It links a word or a group of words to another element of the sentence and specifies a relation of place, time, cause, or purpose. In à cause de son retard, à cause de plays the same role as a simple preposition. Without this locution, the sentence loses the logical link between the two ideas. Like the Prepositions, it introduces a complement and does not bear the main meaning of the sentence by itself.

Fixed form of prepositional phrases

Idea
A prepositional phrase is a fixed group of words that functions as a preposition.
We must respect the exact order of the words in the phrase.
A prepositional phrase can introduce a complement like a simple preposition.
One does not freely replace a prepositional phrase with another word without changing the meaning.

A prepositional phrase is often made up of several words fixed together. We say grâce à, à côté de, au milieu de, en face de. Word order does not change and no word is added in the middle. It is therefore necessary to learn the entire form as a block. The last word is often de or à, but the whole phrase remains a single grammatical unit. In près de la gare or loin de la ville, the complete form is indispensable. If one element is modified, the locution changes.

Complements according to the expressed relation

Usage	Explanation
Location	A prepositional phrase is used to locate an action in space.
Time	A prepositional phrase is used to place an event in time.
Cause	A prepositional phrase is used to explain the reason for an action.
Purpose	A prepositional phrase is used to express the intention of an action.

The prepositional phrase introduces a complement that specifies the relationship between two elements. For place, it appears in groups such as à côté de la porte, au fond du jardin, en face de l’école and links to the Location Prepositions. For time, one finds avant le dîner, au cours de l’année, à partir de lundi, as in the Time Prepositions. It can also mark the cause with à cause de la pluie, en raison de la grève, or the purpose with afin de réussir, pour éviter le bruit, as in the Prepositions of cause and purpose.

grâce àaprès avoirloin deà cause deau lieu deavant deafin deprès de

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Cette locution marque une raison avec un résultat positifCette locution indique une action qui suit une autre actionCette locution indique une action qui se fait plus tôtCette locution marque une raison qui provoque souvent un effet gênantCette locution signifie tout à côté deCette locution exprime un but précisCette locution exprime un remplacement inattenduCette locution signifie à grande distance de

Global meaning of common locutions

Word	Definition
à cause de	This locution marks a reason that often causes a bothersome effect.
grâce à	This locution marks a reason with a positive result.
près de	This locution means right next to.
loin de	This locution means at a great distance from.
avant de	This locution indicates an action that happens earlier.
après avoir	This locution indicates an action that follows another action.
afin de	This locution expresses a precise goal.
au lieu de	This locution expresses an unexpected replacement.

Scramble

The meaning of a prepositional phrase comes from the whole expression, not from each word separately. Grâce à expresses a favorable cause, while à cause de expresses an unfavorable cause. Autour de indicates what surrounds, près de indicates proximity, au lieu de replaces one expectation with another action. These locutions often make the link more precise than a simple preposition. In en face de la bibliothèque, the exact meaning only appears with the entirety of the words.

pourafin depour

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Cette forme est plus simple et très fréquente dans la langue de tous les joursCette locution est soignée et précise pour exprimer le butCette forme peut remplacer une locution plus longue dans un style relâché

Variants by language register

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
Français standard	afin de	This locution is polished and precise for expressing the goal.	Je parle doucement afin de rester poliI speak softly afin de rester poli
Français courant	pour	This form is simpler and very common in everyday language.	Je parle doucement pour rester poliI speak softly pour rester poli
Français familier	pour	This form can replace a longer locution in a relaxed style.	Je viens pour t aider et pas pour bavarderI come pour t aider and not to chat

Scramble

Some prepositional phrases belong to a formal, administrative, or written register, while others are common in speech. En raison de and afin de often appear in a more formal style. In speech, one sometimes prefers simpler forms such as pour instead of afin de or à cause de instead of en raison de. The sense remains tied to the situation. In a sentence like Nous sommes partis pour éviter la pluie, the locution retains a purpose value, but the construction remains more direct.