FRENCH PREPOSITIONS

French
preposition
Common English equivalent Comments
at, in +le>au; +les>aux
aprs after

avant before

avec with

chez
at/to ...'s house/place;
on/from the premises of,
from/at ...'s (with a company
name)
For example: chez moi = at my place; je
passe chez toi = I'll come round to your
place; je l'ai achet chez Darty = I bought it
at Darty('s)
contre against

dans in(side) &bnsp;
de of, from de+le>du, de+les>des
depuis since, from
Also translates English for when used to
indicate a continuing action, e.g. I've been
working for two days = je travaille depuis
deux jours
derrire behind

devant
in front of, outside (the front
of)

en in
Used mainly with feminine countries and
certain figurative expressions


entre between, among

envers towards
The preposition envers means "towards"
as in "I was kind towards him"; when
talking about physical motion towards
something, or progress towards a solution,
vers is used.
environ about, approximately
Used postpositionally about a third of the
time, e.g. about 30 people can be either
environ 30 personnes or 30 personnes
environ.
par by, through

pendant during
Also used to mean "for" with a past
duration of time.
pour for

sans without

sauf except

selon according to, depending on

sous under(neath)

sur on

vers towards
Also used with dates to mean "in
around...", "circa...". See also the
preposition envers (above).




Of these prepositions, and de change slightly
when they have to be used with definite articles. They are
called as contracted articles or articles contract.
The following changes occurs when we say 'at the', 'to
the' or 'in the'
+ le = au + la = la + les = aux
The following changes occur when we say 'of the', 'from
the' or 'about the'
de + le = du* de +la = de la de + les = des*
Note : Contracted articles, du and des are not to
be confused with the partitive articles du and des .
Though the spellings are the same; they carry a different
meaning altogether.
Here are a few examples of usage of contracted articles
Tu vas au bureau aujourd'hi? - You are going to the office
today ?
Marie attend pour toi la gare. -Marie is waiting for you
at the station.
Il donne les chocolates aux enfants. - He gives the
chocolates to the children.
Je parle du livre que j'avais lu. - I'm speaking about the
book that I'd read.


Answers to Exercise on French Prepositions
Complete the following blanks with appropriate French Prepositions.
Mon frre a achet les souvenirs _______ toi. (depuis/ de/ pour)
Teresa prpare sa prsentation _________ anglais. (dans/ en/ )
Je mets tes livres __________ le tiroir. (en/ sur/ dans)
Vous trouvez la banque ____________ d'un bistro. (contre/ en face de/ sous)
Mets-toi _____________ Lucie ! ( ct de/ jusqu'/ entre)
Qui est le meilleur ____________ ces trois ? (entre/ dans/ parmi)
Je t'ai vu hier _________ la tlvision. (sur/ dans/ )
____________ un sondage, 20% femmes prfrent rester la maison. (Pour/ Selon/ Contre)
Le petit garon ne part pas _________ sa maman. (vers/ sans/ )
Il faut tudier _____________ russir aux examen. (d'aprs/ de/ pour)
Monsieur Legrand est ___________ Australie. (en/ au/ dans)
Elles m'accompagnent ______________ l'arrt de bus. (jusqu'/ dans/ vers)
Il faut que tu parles ____________ qu'il ne se plaint. (aprs/ avant/ avec)
Il pleut sans cesse ______________ 10 jours. (depuis/ pour/ pendant)
Jules est __________ Marseille maintenant. (de/ au/ )
Nous allons fter le Nouvel An ___________ Catherine. (/ chez/ aprs)
___________ la deuxime guerre mondial, il y avait des destructions partout. (Depuis/ Avec/
Pendant)
Je serai trs occup _____________ le mariage de mon cousin. (quant / pendant/ )
Je ne trouve rien ___________ la table. (sur/ / de)
___________ tous les enfants adorent les bonbons. (Presque/ Environ/ Vers)



http://www.french-linguistics.co.uk/grammar/presenttense_er.shtml
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