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A preposition is a phrase or phrase that describes the connection between two nouns. They’re quite common and crucial for efficient communication in any language, together with French. Understanding how you can use prepositions is crucial in studying a brand new language if you wish to talk about the place issues are, how they’re shifting, when occasions are occurring, and extra!
You’ll discover that French has its personal nuances in relation to prepositions. Take into account how native New Yorkers are identified to say they’re ready “on line” slightly than “in line.” In French, you’ll wish to watch out of your preposition selection—in lots of instances, you received’t be capable to depend on direct translations from English!
Beneath, we’ll take an in depth have a look at these variations, perceive preposition perform and placement in sentences, and learn the way prepositions can be utilized to raise your conversations. If you wish to grasp French prepositions sooner with out all the memorization, Rosetta Stone may help!
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Why are prepositions so necessary?
Prepositions are very generally used to precise quite a lot of issues, together with location. Let’s look once more on the instance from above:
- The e book is on the shelf. = Le livre est sur l’étagère.
The preposition “on” dictates all the which means of the sentence. If I change “on” with a distinct preposition, the entire sentence modifications:
- The e book is below the shelf. = Le livre est sous l’étagère.
- The e book is removed from the shelf. = Le livre est loin des étagères.
- The e book is close to the shelf. = Le livre est près de l’étagère.
- The e book is subsequent to the shelf. = Le livre est à côté de l’étagère.
The prepositional phrase or phrase utterly modifications the which means. Understanding the totally different prepositions is a basic a part of efficient communication in French.
What features do prepositions serve in French?
Prepositions in French serve a number of features that assist us talk relationships and ideas. Listed here are some helpful and customary features of prepositions in French:
1. Origin and Vacation spot
Frequent prepositions of origin and vacation spot embody à (at/to), de (of/from), and vers (towards).
- Nous allons à la boulangerie. = We’re going to the bakery.
2. Motion
Some widespread prepositions of motion are par (by means of, by), à travers (throughout/by means of) and entre (between).
- Le practice passe par la gare. = The practice goes by means of the station.
3. Geographical Location
Prepositions like chez (on the home of/place of), près de (close to/close to to), and en (in) are generally used to explain locations and places in French.
- Le parc est près de la maison. = The park is close to the home.
4. Time
Prepositions of time in French embody pendant (throughout), jusqu’à (till), and depuis (since).
- J’habite en France depuis 2015. = I’ve lived in France since 2015.
5. Bodily Location
Prepositions like dans (within/in), sur (on/on prime of), and sous (below) are used to explain bodily relationships between two nouns.
- Le verre est sur la desk. = The glass is on the desk.
6. Relationships
Prepositions like avec (with), sans (with out) and contre (towards) signify extra summary relationships between two nouns.
- Je dîne avec ma famille. = I’m having dinner with my household.
How do French prepositions differ from English prepositions?
French prepositions have a number of key variations from English prepositions.
First, French has fewer prepositions total than English. It’s because many French prepositions have a number of meanings and translations. Context is necessary in deciphering the English translation. For instance, the preposition à can imply “in”, “at”, or “to”, relying on the context.
- J’habite à Paris. = I dwell in Paris.
- Je vais à Paris. = I’m going to Paris.
- Je suis à la banque. = I’m at the financial institution.
Second, French prepositions are far more literal than English prepositions. For instance, in French, you’d by no means say you’re “on” (sur) the bus, as this may power somebody to image you on prime of the bus. As an alternative, you say you’re “within” (dans) the bus, as that is extra literal.
Third, when speaking about modes of transport, you’ll use both à or en to explain how you’re touring. Use à when speaking about particular person, outside modes of transportation like strolling, swimming or biking. Use en when speaking about vehicles, planes, trains and different automobiles you enter into.
Subsequent is the French preposition chez. There is no such thing as a actual English equal, however it finest interprets to “on the home of” or “on the place of”, normally adopted by an individual. You need to use chez to explain whose home or place of job you’re visiting. It’s also generally utilized in restaurant names to explain the proprietor or chef.
- Nous allons chez nos dad and mom. = We’re going to our dad and mom’ home.
- Je vais chez le dentiste. = I’m going to the dentist(‘s place).
As well as, speaking about going “to” or being “in” particular cities, international locations, areas, and many others. differs in French. Nation and area names are masculine or female, which modifications the way you discuss them. Some international locations are additionally plural, corresponding to the USA. For instance:
- Je vais au Sénégal. = I’m going to Senegal (masculine).
- Je vais aux États-Unis. = I’m going to the United States (plural).
- Je vais en France = I’m going to France (female).
When speaking about cities or islands, you merely use the preposition à to say “in” or “to”.
- Elle est à Paris. = She is in Paris.
- Elle va à Tahiti. = She goes to Tahiti.
Lastly, when utilizing prepositions in French, it is very important notice that you just can not finish a sentence with a preposition. It’s common in English to finish a sentence with “to”, “about” or “from,” however this isn’t the case in French. Whereas many prepositions in French finish in de, they have to be adopted by a noun or pronoun.
Full record of French prepositions
To assist familiarize you with French prepositions, under is an inventory of 42 widespread French prepositions, alphabetized in French with their English translations.
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| French | English |
| à | at, to |
| à côté de | subsequent to, beside |
| à droite de | to the precise of |
| à gauche de | to the left of |
| à l’est de | to the east of |
| à l’extérieur de | (on the) exterior of |
| à l’intérieur de | (on the) within |
| à l’ouest de | to the west of |
| à partir de | ranging from |
| à travers | throughout, by means of |
| après | after |
| au bout de | on the finish of |
| au-dessous de | beneath, under |
| au-dessus de, en haut de | above, over |
| au lieu de | as a substitute of |
| au milieu de | in the midst of |
| au nord de | to the north of |
| au sud de | to the south of |
| autour de | round |
| avant | earlier than |
| avec | with |
| chez | on the home of, on the place of |
| contre | towards |
| dans | in, within |
| de | of, from |
| depuis | since, for (+ time frame) |
| derrière | behind |
| devant | in entrance of |
| en | in |
| en face de | dealing with, throughout from |
| entre | between |
| envers, vers | in direction of |
| jusqu’à | till |
| loin de | far (away) from |
| par | by means of, by (location or authorship) |
| parmi | amongst |
| pendant | throughout, for (+ time frame) |
| pour | for |
| près de | close to to |
| sans | with out |
| sous | beneath |
| sur | on, on prime of |
Frequent French prepositions by perform
Now that you just’re conversant in the above widespread French prepositions, we’ll have a look at how you can use them based mostly on their perform. It will aid you grasp when to make use of French prepositions based mostly on the context.
Beneath are 42 widespread French prepositions organized by perform:
Origin and Vacation spot
Many prepositions in French are used to debate the origin and vacation spot of nouns.
- Le bus va de Lyon à Paris = The bus goes from Lyon to Paris.
| French | English |
| à | at, to |
| à partir de | ranging from |
| au bout de | on the finish of |
| de | of, from |
| jusqu’à | till |
Motion
Along with describing the origin and vacation spot of a noun, there are a number of French prepositions to explain the motion of a noun.
- Je vais vers le café. = I’m going in direction of the café.
- Il va à travers le parc. = He’s going by means of the park.
| French | English |
| à travers | throughout, by means of |
| autour de | round |
| envers, vers | in direction of |
Geographical Location
Along with describing motion, you may also use prepositions in French to explain geographical location.
- Le restaurant est au nord de la bibliothèque. = The restaurant is to the north of the library.
Bear in mind, nonetheless, that in English we regularly drop off “to the” with these phrases, merely saying “north of”. In French you will need to use all the prepositional phrase “to the north of” adopted by a noun or pronoun.
| French | English |
| à l’est de | to the east of |
| à l’ouest de | to the west of |
| au nord de | to the north of |
| au sud de | to the south of |
Time
Prepositions in French may also be used to point a relationship in time between two nouns.
- J’étudie jusqu’à cinq heures. = I’m learning till 5 o’clock.
- Il travaille pendant la journée. = He’s working throughout the day.
You will need to notice that pour, pendant and depuis can all be translated to “for” relying on the context. Pour is mostly used to point “for” with future occasions, whereas pendant interprets to “for” with accomplished previous occasions. In any other case, pendant interprets to “throughout.” Depuis interprets to “for” with persevering with, current occasions, in any other case it interprets to “since.”
- Nous allons en France pour le week-end. = We’re going to France for the weekend.
- Nous sommes allés en France pendant deux semaines. = We went to France for two weeks.
- Nous habitons en France depuis deux ans. = We’ve lived in France for two years.
| French | English |
| à | at, to |
| après | after |
| avant | earlier than |
| de | of, from |
| depuis | since, for (+ time frame) |
| jusqu’à | till |
| pendant | throughout, for (+ time frame) |
| pour | for |
Bodily Location
One other use for French prepositions is to explain the bodily relationship between two nouns. For instance:
- Le chat est dans la boîte. = The cat is in (within) the field.
- Le chat est devant la boîte. = The cat is in entrance of the field.
The desk under lists a number of prepositions of location in French.
| French | English |
| à côté de | subsequent to, beside |
| à droite de | to the precise of |
| à gauche de | to the left of |
| à l’extérieur de | (on the) exterior of |
| à l’intérieur de | (on the) within |
| au-dessous de | beneath, under |
| au-dessus de, en haut de | above, over |
| au milieu de | in the midst of |
| chez | on the home of, on the place of |
| dans | in, within |
| derrière | behind |
| devant | in entrance of |
| en | in |
| en face de | dealing with, throughout from |
| entre | between |
| loin de | far (away) from |
| par | by (location) |
| près de | close to to |
| sous | beneath |
| sur | on, on prime of |
Relationships
Prepositions’ fundamental perform is to point the connection between two nouns. The French prepositions mentioned within the earlier sections describe extra concrete relationships, corresponding to location and time. There are additionally prepositions that specific extra summary relationships. For instance:
- Elle a arrêté la voiture sans prévenir. = She stopped the automotive with out warning.
The next record consists of prepositions that describe relationships, each concrete and summary.
| French | English |
| au lieu de | as a substitute of |
| avec | with |
| contre | towards |
| parmi | amongst |
| sans | with out |
When do prepositions change kind?
Prepositions that finish in de want to vary kind relying on the article of the noun that follows them. Moreover, the preposition à has kind modifications. These modifications are much like contractions in English. For instance, “I’ve” can change into “I’ve.” In French, nonetheless, these kind modifications aren’t non-obligatory as they typically are in English.
When de is adopted by the particular article le or les, it should change. When adopted by la or l’, it doesn’t change. Take a look at the chart and examples under:
| Preposition + Article | Contraction |
| de + le | du |
| de + l’ | de l’ |
| de + la | de la |
| de + les | des |
- Le practice est à gauche du bus. = The practice is to the left of the bus.
- Le chat est loin de l’araignée. = The cat is much from the spider.
- Le chien est à côté de la desk. = The canine is subsequent to the desk.
- La fille est près des garçons. = The woman is shut to the boys.
If de is adopted by an indefinite article (un/une) or one other phrase that begins with a vowel, it modifications to d’.
The identical sample exists with the preposition à. The contractions are barely totally different with the articles le and les. Once more, have a look at the desk and examples under:
| Preposition + Article | Contraction |
| à + le | au |
| à + l’ | à l’ |
| à + la | à la |
| à + les | aux |
- Je vais au café. = I’m going to the café.
- Il va à l’épicerie. = He’s going to the grocery retailer.
- Nous sommes à la Tour Eiffel. = We’re on the Eiffel Tower.
- Je vais aux toilettes. = I’m going to the restroom.
These patterns exist to enhance pronunciation. Mastering these will aid you talk extra successfully in French!
Utilizing prepositions to kind questions
One final thing to look at when utilizing French prepositions is how you can use them in query kind. The phrase order is a bit totally different than in English, as prepositions should keep “hooked up” to the query phrase. For instance:
- D’où viens-tu ? = The place do you come from?
Discover the preposition de and the query phrase où (the place) are linked, whereas in English they aren’t. Take a look at the chart under for an inventory of widespread query phrases that connect with prepositions, known as interrogative expressions:
| French | English |
| à qui | to whom |
| avec qui | with whom |
| avec quoi | with what |
| chez qui | at whose home/place |
| depuis quand | since when |
| d’où | from the place |
| pour combien de temps | for the way lengthy (how a lot time) |
| pour qui | for whom |
These expressions should keep “hooked up” to one another, in contrast to how we use them in English. Additionally notice that the query phrase pourquoi (why) is one phrase, though it originated as an interrogative expression.
Perfecting French prepositions begins with Rosetta Stone
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Written by Ingrid Narum
Ingrid is a full-time French and EL trainer. She is at present studying Norwegian and Spanish.
