Prepositions in French

French Prepositions

Here's a rundown of the most common French prepositions along with their usual English counterparts. You can explore detailed lessons by clicking on the links provided.

These prepositions play crucial roles in French grammar and understanding their usage is essential for mastering the language.

10 essential French prepositions

Alright, let's break down these 10 essential French prepositions in a way that's easy to understand.

1. à (to, at, in + city):
   • Use "à" when you want to indicate direction or location towards something or somewhere.
   • For example, "Je parle à Paul" means "I am speaking to Paul", "Je travaille à trois heures" translates to "I work at 3", and "Je travaille à Paris" means "I work in Paris".
   • Remember, "à" combines with the French definite articles to form "au" and "aux".
2. de (from, of, about):
   • "De" is used to indicate origin, possession, or the content of something.
   • For instance, "Je rentre de Paris" means "I am coming back from Paris", "Un kilo de bananes" translates to "One kilo of banana", and "Je parle de Paul" means "I am talking about Paul".
   • Note that "de" contracts with definite articles to form "du" and "des", and becomes "d’" before a vowel or an h.
3. chez (at/to someone’s place):
   • Use "chez" to indicate being at or going to someone's place.
   • For example, "Je suis chez Anne" means "I am at Anne’s place". Remember that "Je vais chez moi" translates to "I’m going home".
4. en (in, by):
   • "En" is used to indicate location or time.
   • For instance, "Elle travaille en France" means "She works in France", "Nous sommes en juin" translates to "It’s June", and "Nous sommes en 2007" means "It’s 2007". Also, "Elle voyage en voiture" translates to "She is traveling by car".
   • "En" can also function as a pronoun.
5. sur ≠ sous (on ≠ under):
   • Use "sur" when something is on top of something else, and "sous" when something is underneath.
   • For example, "Le livre est sur la table" means "The book is on the table", while "Non, il est sous la table" translates to "No, it’s under the table".
6. au dessus de ≠ en dessous de (above ≠ under – without touching the object):
   • "Au dessus de" means above, while "en dessous de" means under without touching the object.
   • For example, "Au dessus du sofa, il y a un tableau" means "Above the sofa, there is a painting", and "En dessous du sofa, il y a une balle" translates to "Under the sofa, there is a ball".
7. dessus ≠ dessous (above/over/on top ≠ underneath – at the end of a sentence):
   • "Dessus" refers to above or on top, while "dessous" refers to underneath.
   • For instance, "Le coussin va dessus, et la balle dessous" means "The cushion goes on top, and the ball underneath".
8. dans (inside, in, within):
   • Use "dans" to indicate being inside something or a specific time frame.
   • For example, "Le livre est dans la table" means "The book is inside the table", "Le film est dans trois heures" translates to "The movie is in 3 hours", and "J’arrive dans deux minutes" means "I’ll be here within 2 minutes".
9. dedans ≠ dehors (in,inside ≠ out, outside at the end of a sentence):
   • "Dedans" means inside, while "dehors" means outside, especially when used at the end of a sentence.
   • For example, "Le chien est dans l’appartement ?" means "Is the dog in the apartment?", and "Oui, il est dedans" translates to "Yes, he’s inside".
10. devant ≠ derrière. (in front of ≠ behind):

• Use "devant" when referring to something in front of, and "derrière" for behind.
• For instance, "Devant la maison, il y a un jardin" means "In front of the house, there’s a garden", while "Derrière la maison, il y a une piscine" translates to "Behind the house, there is a swimming pool".

These prepositions are fundamental in constructing meaningful sentences in French, so make sure to understand their usage thoroughly. Practice using them in various contexts to master their application in conversation.

Common French Prepositions of Place

If you're learning French, mastering prepositions of place is crucial. These little words can change the entire meaning of a sentence! Below, you'll find a handy table of some of the most common French prepositions of place, along with their pronunciations and English translations.

Study this table well, and you'll have a solid foundation in French prepositions of place. Remember, these words might have multiple English translations, so practice using them in different contexts to get a feel for how they're used. Happy learning!

Prepositional Phrases in French

Prepositional phrases are combinations of prepositions that provide more specific information about the location or relationship of something. They are essential in understanding spatial relationships in French. Here are some common prepositional phrases in French along with their English equivalents:

Understanding these prepositional phrases will help you express and comprehend location and spatial relations in French more accurately.

Prepositions with Countries in French

Understanding which preposition to use when talking about being located in a country in French can be tricky. It largely depends on the gender of the country name. Here's a guide to help you navigate:

Examples:

Remembering these rules will assist you in correctly using prepositions when discussing locations within countries in French.