French prepositions are essential words that connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other parts of a sentence, expressing relationships such as direction, location, time, cause, and manner. They are indispensable for constructing clear and precise sentences in French.
- Connect words and show relationships (place, time, cause, etc.)
- Essential for sentence structure and meaning
- A1/A2 prepositions include simple forms and common usage cases
French prepositions show location, express time, indicate cause, and link words—but they do not conjugate verbs or modify adjectives.
Common Prepositions
Common French prepositions include à, de, en, pour, avec, sans, and chez.
French prepositions include words like à (to, at), de (from, of), en (in, by), pour (for), avec (with), sans (without), and chez (at the home of). These small words are crucial for expressing precise relationships in sentences.
- à: to, at, for
- de: from, of
- en: in, on, by
- pour: for
- avec: with
- sans: without
- chez: at the home of
'pour' and sometimes 'à' are used for expressing cause or purpose.
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place include à, dans, sur, sous, devant, derrière, and entre.
Prepositions of place describe where things are located. Some common ones are:
- à: at, to
- dans: in
- sur: on
- sous: under
- devant: in front of
- derrière: behind
- entre: between
'à', 'dans', 'sur', and 'sous' are used to describe location.
Prepositions of Time
Common French time prepositions include à, en, dans, pendant, and depuis.
Prepositions of time tell us when something happens:
- à: at (a specific time)
- en: in (a month, year, season)
- dans: in (future)
- pendant: during, for
- depuis: since, for (ongoing)
'Depuis' is used for ongoing actions that started in the past.
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions often start phrases that provide more detail, called prepositional phrases. These phrases include the preposition plus a noun or pronoun, giving extra information about time, place, reason, or manner.
- Preposition + noun/pronoun = prepositional phrase
- Adds detail to sentences
- Can indicate where, when, why, or how something happens
Yes, prepositional phrases can express reasons for actions.
Example:
avec + mes amis = avec mes amis (with my friends) — a prepositional phrase expressing accompaniment.
Conclusion
French prepositions are small but mighty words that create essential links in sentences. Mastering common prepositions, including those for place and time, is key to becoming fluent and precise in French.
- Prepositions link ideas and show important relationships.
- Common prepositions cover place, time, cause, and more.
- Understanding how to use prepositional phrases expands your ability to express detailed thoughts.