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

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When use: Quand or Quant? Ou or Où? a or à?
A-à.jpg
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

Contributors

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