Prepositions

What Are Prepositions?

Definition:

Prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other parts of the sentence, usually indicating relationships in time, place, direction, cause, manner, or purpose. In French, prepositions are essential for constructing sentences that convey clear and precise meaning.

Types of Prepositions

There are several categories of prepositions in French, each serving a specific function:

• Prepositions of Place (Prépositions de lieu): Indicate the location or position of something.
• Prepositions of Time (Prépositions de temps): Indicate when something happens.
• Prepositions of Direction (Prépositions de direction): Indicate movement towards something.
• Prepositions of Cause and Purpose (Prépositions de cause et de but): Indicate reasons or goals.
• Prepositions of Manner (Prépositions de manière): Indicate the way or manner in which something is done.

Table of Common French Prepositions

Type	Preposition	Usage	Example Sentence	Translation
Place	à	Indicates a location (at, in, to)	Je suis à la maison.	I am at home.
	dans	Inside a place (in)	Le livre est dans la boîte.	The book is in the box.
	sur	On top of something (on)	Le chat est sur la table.	The cat is on the table.
	sous	Under something (under)	La voiture est sous le pont.	The car is under the bridge.
	devant	In front of something (in front of)	Je suis devant l'école.	I am in front of the school.
	derrière	Behind something (behind)	La chaise est derrière la table.	The chair is behind the table.
Time	à	A specific time (at)	Je pars à 8 heures.	I leave at 8 o'clock.
	en	A month, season, or year (in)	Nous partons en juin.	We're leaving in June.
	depuis	Indicates duration (since, for)	J'habite ici depuis trois ans.	I've been living here for three years.
	pendant	Duration of an action (for, during)	J'ai dormi pendant deux heures.	I slept for two hours.
	avant	Before a specific time or event (before)	Je suis arrivé avant midi.	I arrived before noon.
	après	After a specific time or event (after)	Nous mangerons après le film.	We'll eat after the movie.
Direction	vers	Toward something (towards)	Il marche vers la gare.	He is walking towards the station.
	jusqu'à	Up to a point in time or place (until, up to)	Je vais jusqu'à la plage.	I'm going up to the beach.
	par	Through/by a place (through, by)	Il est passé par la porte.	He went through the door.
Cause/Purpose	pour	For a reason or purpose (for, in order to)	Il étudie pour réussir.	He studies in order to succeed.
	à cause de	Because of (negative reason)	Il est en retard à cause de la pluie.	He is late because of the rain.
	grâce à	Thanks to (positive reason)	J'ai réussi grâce à ton aide.	I succeeded thanks to your help.
Manner	avec	With something/someone (with)	Je mange avec une fourchette.	I eat with a fork.
	sans	Without something/someone (without)	Il est parti sans ses clés.	He left without his keys.
	comme	Like/as (manner or comparison)	Elle chante comme un ange.	She sings like an angel.

Examples of Prepositions in Sentences

Prepositions of Place:

1. French: Le chien est sous la table.

• Translation: The dog is under the table.

2. French: Ils habitent dans un appartement.

• Translation: They live in an apartment.

Prepositions of Time:

1. French: Nous partons en décembre.

• Translation: We're leaving in December.

2. French: Je travaille ici depuis cinq ans.

• Translation: I have been working here for five years.

Prepositions of Direction:

1. French: Elle va vers la porte.

• Translation: She is going towards the door.

2. French: Ils marchent jusqu'à la montagne.

• Translation: They walk up to the mountain.

Prepositions of Cause and Purpose:

1. French: Je fais du sport pour rester en forme.

• Translation: I exercise to stay in shape.

2. French: Il a échoué à cause de son manque de préparation.

• Translation: He failed because of his lack of preparation.

Prepositions of Manner:

1. French: Elle parle avec passion.

• Translation: She speaks with passion.

2. French: Il travaille comme un fou.

• Translation: He works like a madman.

Exam Tips for Prepositions

• Master Common Prepositions: Make sure you are familiar with common French prepositions and their correct usage in sentences. Pay special attention to those that have multiple meanings depending on context (e.g., "à" can mean "at," "to," or "in").
• Practice with Prepositional Phrases: Many prepositions form part of fixed expressions or phrases in French. Memorizing these will help you use prepositions more accurately in your exams.
• Use Context Clues: Often, the meaning of a preposition can be determined by the context of the sentence. Practice recognizing and interpreting these clues.
• Understand Preposition + Article Contractions: In French, some prepositions contract with the definite article (e.g., "à + le" becomes "au"). Knowing these contractions is essential for accurate sentence construction.
• Practice Gender and Number Agreement: Be mindful of the agreement between the preposition and the noun it governs, especially when it involves articles or possessive adjectives.