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French prepositions
As if the myriad possible translations of à and de aren’t enough, these two French prepositions also have complementary and contrasting uses.
Be sure to take a look at the individual lessons before studying this comparative chart:
À vs de with a(n) …
Place
| current location, destination | vs | origin, starting point | ||
| Il est à Lille. | He’s in Lille. | Il est de Lille. | He’s from Lille. | |
| Il va à Nantes. | He’s going to Nantes. | Il part de Nantes. | He’s leaving (from) Nantes. | |
Distance
| in time or space | vs | point of reference | ||
| Le café est à 10 minutes … | The café is 10 minutes … | … du magasin. | … from the store. | |
| J’habite à 2 km … | I live 2 kilometers… | … d’ici. | … from here. | |
Description
| style | vs | purpose, defining feature | ||
| sac à main | hand bag | sac de couchage | sleeping bag | |
| cousu à la machine | machine-sewn | cousu de paillettes | sequinned | |
Object
| function, "for" | vs | contents, "of, with" | ||
| verre à vin | wine glass | verre de vin | glass of wine | |
| salle à manger | dining room | salle de bains | bathroom | |
Ingredient
| one of several, "made with" | vs | primary, "made of" | ||
| salade au chèvre | salad with chèvre | salade de fruits | fruit salad | |
| thé au citron | tea with lemon | jus de citron | lemon juice | |
Possession
| emphasis on owner | vs | general ownership | ||
| Cette voiture est à moi. | This car is mine. | la voiture de Lise | Lise’s car | |
| un ami à mon père | a friend of my dad’s | un ami de mon père | my dad’s friend | |
Related lessons
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i’m very confused about the à vs de usage with ingredients. do you have any more examples? a chocolate chip cookie, for example… bisquit aux pepites de chocolat? chicken broth: bouillon au poulet?
Chocolate chip cookie = un biscuit aux pepites de chocolat, because chocolate chips are only one of many ingredients.
Chicken stock = bouillon de poulet, because you basically make it by boiling a chicken, that is the sole or primary ingredient.
hello miss lawless.
thanks so much for this post.
I had some troubles understanding why they use ‘à’ for ‘salle à manger’ and I asked it in duolingo and my friend there linked me to your post. so great that you had the exact example here.
so great and convincing as always.
Great, happy to help! 🙂