French preposition
The preposition à is generally summarized as "to, at, or in," but it has quite a few more meanings and uses than that.
When à is followed by the
definite article le or
les, the two words must
contract.
|
|
le |
|
les |
|
But… |
|
la |
|
l’ |
à |
|
au |
|
aux |
|
|
|
à la |
|
à l’ |
However,
à does not contract with the
direct objects le and
les.
Je me prépare à le faire – I’m getting ready to do it.
1) Destination |
|
Nous allons à Nice. |
|
We’re going to Nice. |
|
Je veux conduire à la poste. |
|
I want to drive to the post office. |
2) Location |
|
Habitez-vous à Toulouse ? |
|
Do you live in Toulouse? |
|
Elle est à l’école. |
|
She’s at school. |
3) Distance |
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Nous sommes à deux kilomètres de la plage. |
|
We’re two kilometers from the beach. |
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Il habite à 20 minutes d’ici. |
|
He lives 20 minutes away from here. |
4) Point in time |
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Elle va arriver à midi. |
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She’ll arrive at noon. |
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J’ai publié mon premier livre à 25 ans. |
|
I published my first book at 25. |
5) Until |
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à demain |
|
until tomorrow |
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à la prochaine |
|
until next time |
6) Range |
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Il me faut 2 à 3 heures pour le faire. |
|
I need 2 to 3 hours to do it. |
|
du lundi au samedi |
|
from Monday to Saturday |
7) Purpose or use |
|
un verre à vin |
|
wine glass (glass for wine) |
|
un sac à main |
|
hand bag |
8) Characteristic |
|
une fille au teint pâle |
|
pale-skinned girl |
|
chaussures à talon haut |
|
high-heeled shoes |
9) Manner or style |
|
une robe à manches |
|
dress with sleeves |
|
un tapis fait à la machine |
|
machine-made rug |
10) Measurement |
|
acheter au kilo |
|
to buy by the kilo |
|
faire du 110 km à l’heure |
|
to go 110 km per hour |
|
|
C’est à moi. |
|
It’s mine. |
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Cet argent est à Michel. |
|
This is Michel’s money. |
|
|
à vendre |
|
for sale |
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Nous n’avons rien à faire. |
|
We have nothing to do. |
13) After verbs |
|
Many verbs must be followed by à in front of a noun or infinitive. |
14) After adjectives |
|
Some adjectives must be followed by à in front of a noun or infinitive. |
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