Language/French/Grammar/Prepositions
Prepositions (les prépositions) are words which link two related parts of a sentence. In this lesson on "French Grammar → Prepositions", you will learn about useful French prepositions and how to use them in sentences. As an exercise, try to guess the meaning of each preposition and compose a sentence in French. 🇫🇷
After mastering prepositions, you might also be interested in exploring other aspects of French grammar. Check out our lessons on French vowels and consonants, the difference between "J'ai eu" and "j'avais", and phrases used as adverbs to further enhance your French language skills. Bonne chance!
à cause de
because of
- Je suis arrivé en retard à cause de lui = I arrived late because of him
à côté de
next to
- J'habite à côté de l'église = I live next to the church
à l'exception de
except
- J'ai répondu à toutes les questions à l'exception de la dernière = I answered all the questions except the last
à partir de
from
- A partir de demain, je commence le régime = From tomorrow I start the diet
à travers
through
- Il est passé à travers la foule = He passed through the crowd
après
after
- Je suis juste après lui = I'm just after him
au cours de
during
- Il s'en ai rendu compte au cours de la soirée = He realized during the evening
au lieu de
instead of
- Tu devrais travailler au lieu de jouer = You should work instead of play
de la part de
on behalf of
- Je vous contacte de la part de Monsieur Dupont = I am contacting you on behalf of Mr. Dupont
au sommet de
to the top
- Il est arrivé au sommet de la montagne = It got to the mountain top
au-delà
beyond
- Le résultat de l'entreprise a été au-delà de ses espérances = The result of the company was beyond his expectations
au-dessus
over
- l'avion est passé dessus de ma tête = the plane flew over my head
autour de
around
- il a mis son écharpe autour du cou = he put his scarf around his neck
avant
before
- Il était là avant vous = He was there before you
avec
with
- Je passe mon dimanche avec ma famille = I spend my Sunday with family
comme
as
- Comme il l'avais promis, il a fini son travail = As he had promised, he finished his work
contrairement à
contrary to
- contrairement à ce que tu m'as dit, il n'y avait personne = contrary to what you told me, there was nobody
contre
against
- Mets ce meuble contre le mur = Put this piece of furniture against the wall
dans
in
- mets le lait dans le frigo = put the milk in the fridge
depuis
for
- Il est à Paris depuis 2 ans = He has been living in Paris for 2 years
derrière
behind
- Il est caché derrière la porte = He is hidden behind the door
en dessous
under
- Le chat est en dessous de la table = The cat is under the table
en face de
in front of
- rendez-vous en face de l'hôtel = go in front of the hotel
en raison de
because of
- le pique-nique a été annulé en raison de la pluie = The picnic was canceled because of the rain
entre
between
- On se voit entre midi et deux heures ? = See you between noon and two o'clock?
jusqu'à ce que
until
- Je suis resté jusqu'à ce qu'il arrive = I stayed until it arrives
l'intérieur de
inside
- Il fait chaud à l'intérieur de la maison = It is hot inside the house
malgré
despite
- Malgré toutes les difficultés, il a continué la course = Despite all the difficulties, he continued the race
plus
more
- Il y a plus de monde aujourd'hui = There are more people today
pour
for
- Il travaille pour lui = He works for him
près de
near
- Il travaille près de chez lui = He works close to home
sous
under
- L'objet est sous la table = The object is under the table
sur
on
- L'objet est sur la table = The object is on the table
vers
towards
- Je me dirige vers l'église = I head towards the church
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Other Lessons
- Polite Form
- Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Addresses
- Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Order of cardinal numbers and adjectives
- Categories of Nouns in French
- The partitive article "du", "de l'", "de la" and "des"
- Relative Clause
- Omission of the article after sans, avec, en, sur, sous, par, ni
- Proper Nouns
- Auxiliary
- Déterminants