French prepositions - À and De
À - The French preposition à is incredibly versatile and is used in various contexts. Here’s an overview of its main uses:
1. Location and Direction
To indicate location:
Example: "Je suis à Paris." (I am in Paris.)
To indicate direction:
Example: "Je vais à l'école." (I am going to school.)
2. Time
To indicate time:
Example: "Le train part à 8 heures." (The train leaves at 8 o'clock.)
3. Distance
To indicate distance:
Example: "La gare est à 10 kilomètres." (The station is 10 kilometers away.)
4. Manner
To indicate manner or way something is done:
Example: "Il mange à la main." (He eats with his hands.)
5. Possession
To indicate possession:
Example: "Ce livre est à moi." (This book is mine.)
6. Purpose or Use
To indicate purpose or function:
Example: "Une machine à laver." (A washing machine.)
7. Price and Measure
To indicate price:
Example: "Les pommes sont à 2 euros le kilo." (The apples are 2 euros per kilo.)
8. Personal Pronouns
Used with indirect object pronouns:
Example: "Je parle à Marie." (I am talking to Marie.)
9. Infinitive Constructions
With verbs followed by an infinitive:
Example: "Je commence à lire." (I am starting to read.)
10. Expressions and Idioms
Used in various idiomatic expressions:
Example: "Aller à pied." (To go on foot.)
Example: "Être à la hauteur." (To be up to the task.)
11. After Certain Adjectives and Nouns
Adjectives:
Example: "Fidèle à ses principes." (Faithful to his principles.)
Nouns:
Example: "Une invitation à dîner." (An invitation to dinner.)
1. Possession and Relationship
To indicate possession or relationship:
Example: "La voiture de Paul." (Paul's car.)
Example: "Le livre de Marie." (Marie's book.)
2. Origin
To indicate origin or starting point:
Example: "Il vient de France." (He comes from France.)
Example: "Je suis de New York." (I am from New York.)
3. Material or Content
To indicate the material something is made of or its content:
Example: "Une table de bois." (A wooden table.)
Example: "Un verre de vin." (A glass of wine.)
4. Quantity
To indicate quantity:
Example: "Un kilo de pommes." (A kilo of apples.)
Example: "Beaucoup de gens." (A lot of people.)
5. Partitive Articles
To indicate an unspecified amount of something:
Example: "Je voudrais de l'eau." (I would like some water.)
Example: "Il y a de la neige." (There is some snow.)
6. Cause
To indicate cause:
Example: "Il est mort de faim." (He died of hunger.)
7. After Certain Verbs
Used after certain verbs to introduce an infinitive:
Example: "J'ai décidé de partir." (I decided to leave.)
Example: "Elle a peur de tomber." (She is afraid of falling.)
8. Expressions of Time
To indicate a specific time:
Example: "Dix heures de matin." (Ten o'clock in the morning.)
9. Manner
To indicate the manner of something:
Example: "Un travail de qualité." (A quality job.)
10. Comparison
In comparisons:
Example: "Plus grand que lui de deux centimètres." (Two centimeters taller than him.)
11. Fixed Expressions
Used in various fixed expressions:
Example: "Être en train de faire quelque chose." (To be in the process of doing something.)
Example: "Avoir envie de quelque chose." (To feel like having something.)
12. Geographical Names
Used with names of cities and some countries:
Example: "Paris est la capitale de la France." (Paris is the capital of France.)
Example: "La ville de New York." (The city of New York.)
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