Language/French/Grammar/When-Use-à-or-a

When use: Quand or Quant?

Ou or Où?

a or à?

How to know when we to write "à" or "a" in a sentence?

Summary

It is easy :)

First :

"a" is the verb to have "avoir" conjugated at the third singular person.

• Elle / Il a

So it is used with "Passé composé" for example.

• Elle a mangé / She has eaten

We can see that, after "a" there is a past participle

Then :

"à" is not a verb.

"à" is like "to" in sentences. (When used with the verbs, but not for places or gentive)

Note : "à" is in singular, in plural it is "aux"

• C'est à moi / It's mine

• Tu es à Orléans / You're in Orléans

• Je veux à boire / I want a drink

The good point is :

- There is no distonction between "à" and "a" at the oral. So if you talk to a french, don't worry about that ;)

Find the good answers below :

• Il est à/a toi.

• Il à/a déjà terminé?

• À/a tout à/a l'heure!

• Des choux à/a la crème.

• Il à/a presque tout à/a côté de lui.

a

a: form of the verb to have (avoir) at the 3rd person singular.

TIP: You can substitute with have at the past : "avait"

• Example: Il a trouvé une perle. ---> Il avait trouvé une perle.

à

à: preposition or part of a prepositional phrase (because of, from, etc.). It introduces an indirect object of the verb. TIP: You cannot replace with "avait".

• Example: Loulou est partie à Québec. ---> Loulou est partie avait Québec