Prepositions Flashcards
To master proper usage of prepositions
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
It is used with CITIES.
à (without contractions)
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
It is used with FEMININE COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS, REGIONS, STATES and PROVINCES
en
Note: fems usually ends in “e” or “ie”
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
It is used with MASCULINE COUNTRIES.
au
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
- It is used to say where someone is “from”.
- When the person is from a CITY/CITIES
de (without contraction)
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
- It is used to say where someone is “from”.
- When the person is from a FEMININE COUNTRY.
de (without contraction)
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
- It is used to say where someone is “from”.
- When the person is from a MASCULINE COUNTRY.
du (contraction: de + le)
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
- It is used to say where someone is “from”.
- When the person is from a PLURAL FORM COUNTRY.
des (contraction: de + les)
Prepositions with Geographical Names:
It is a preposition used for “Locations inside a Place”
dans
Prepositions with Modes of Transportation:
It is used for OPEN or NON-CLOSED transport.
It is also used when you are “riding on” something rather than being inside it.
à (without contraction)
Prepositions with Modes of Transportation:
It is used for ENCLOSED or PERSONAL TRANSPORT.
It is also used when you are “inside” the vehicle when referring to a means of transport in general.
en
Prepositions with Modes of Transportation:
It is used for INDIRECT or PASSIVE means of transport.
It is also used when emphasizing the “route” or “method” of transport rather than the vehicle itself.
par
Prepositions with Modes of Transportation:
It is used for PHYSICAL PRESENCE inside a vehicle.
Used when emphasizing being “inside” the transport (location of the subject) rather than the means of transport itself.
dans
Note: Difference between “en” and “dans” is that “en” is the mode of transportation in general and “dans” is emphasizing the subject’s location
Prepositions with Expression of Time:
It is used when referring to a PRECISE TIME (specific moment) in the day.
à
Prepositions with Expression of Time:
It is used for FUTURE TIME.
It is used when you want to indicate how long (time) before something happens (from present to future).
dans
E.g.
Je partirai dans dix minutes
Prepositions with Expression of Time:
It is used for DURATION and TIME TAKEN.
It is used when you want to indicate how long (time) it needs to complete an action or a general time period.
en
E.g.
J’ai appris le français en six mois.
Elle finit son travail en deux heures.
Nous voyageons en été.
Prepositions with Expression of Time:
It is used to refer something/happening before a time or event.
avant
Prepositions with Expression of Time:
It is used to refer something/happening after a time or event.
après
Prepositions Used to Join Two Nouns:
It is used to indicate PURPOSE, USE or DESTINATION.
It is used when one noun describes the purpose of another.
à
E.g.
Une machine à café (a coffee machine)
Une salle à manger (a dining room)
Un verre à vin (a wine glass)
Prepositions Used to Join Two Nouns:
It is used to indicate POSSESSION, CONTENT or TYPE (what kind is the object)
de
E.g.
Un verre de vin (a glass of wine) - Content
Le livre de Paul (book belongs to Paul) - Possession
Un sac de voyage (when being asked what type of bag) - Type
Prepositions Used to Join Two Nouns:
It is used to indicate MATERIAL or STATE.
It is used when describing “materials” (what is it made of) or “state” (condition).
en
E.g.
Un pull en laine (a sweater made of wool)
Une maison en bois (a house made of wood)
Un enfant en colère (a child in anger)
Prepositions After Indefinite Pronouns:
(quelque chose, quelqu’un/une, rien, personne)
This preposition is used when these pronouns are modified by an ADJECTIVE and ADVERB.
de
E.g.
Il a mangé quelque chose de bon
Elle ne dit rien d’intéressant
Prepositions in Adverbial Clauses of Manner:
It is used when referring to a METHOD, STYLE or CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOR of doing something.
Often use “nouns” as expressing something.
à
E.g.
Il écrit à la main (He writes by hand)
Elle cuisine à la française (She cooks in the French way)
Il chante à la perfection (He sings perfectly)
Prepositions in Adverbial Clauses of Manner:
It is used often with CAUSE and EMOTION or STATE OF BEING.
de
E.g.
Il tremble de peur (He trembles out of fear)
Elle crie de joie (She shouts out of joy)
Elle pleure de tristesse (She cries out of sadness)
Prepositions in Adverbial Clauses of Manner:
It is used when referring to a TOOL being used or an ATTITUDE how an action has been done.
avec
E.g.
Il coupe le pain avec un couteau (He cuts the bread with a knife) - Tool
Elle parle avec patience (She speaks with patience) - Attitude
Il écrit avec un stylo (He writes with a pen) - Tool
Prepositions of Cause:
This preposition of cause (expression) is used for NEUTRAL or NEGATIVE CAUSES.
à cause de
Structure:
à cause de + pronoun (no contraction)
à cause de + noun (with contraction)
Prepositions of Cause:
This preposition of cause (expression) is used for POSITIVE CAUSES (thanks to).
grace à
Structure:
grace à + pronoun (no contraction)
grace à + noun (with contraction)
Prepositions of Cause:
This preposition of cause (expression) is used in FORMAL or OFFICIAL CONTEXTS.
en raison de
Structure:
en raison de + noun (with contraction)
Prepositions of Cause:
This preposition of cause (expression) indicates a LACK OF SOMETHING as the cause.
faute de
Structure:
faute de + noun (no contraction)
Prepositions of Cause:
This preposition of cause (expression) indicates a FALSE or QUESTIONABLE CAUSE.
sous prétexte de
Structure:
sous prétexte de + noun (no contraction)
