Using prepositions and prepositional phrases
Prepositions
Prepositions help link words and establish relationships between them. They can be single words such as à (at, to, in), de (from, of), and pour (to, in order to); these are called simple prepositions. They can also be compound phrases such as afin de (in order to) and grâce à (thanks to); these are called complex prepositions. Here are some examples of simple and complex prepositions:
Consider the following sentences that include prepositional phrases:
Remember that the preposition à as well as any complex preposition that has à as its second component must contract with the article le to produce au and with the article les to produce aux.
Similarly, the preposition de as well as any complex preposition that has de as its second component must contract with the article le to produce du and with the article les to produce des.
Prepositional phrases
Many sentences include one or more prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a noun (sometimes accompanied by an adjective), a pronoun, or an adverb. Prepositional phrases are powerful tools in building sentences as they provide supporting details.
When a prepositional phrase includes a verb as in the following example, it is an infinitive clause. You may review Unit 10 for more on infinitive clauses introduced by prepositions.
Identify the prepositional phrase(s) in each sentence by underlining it/them.
1. J’allais faire un séjour chez ma tante Irène en France.
2. À la dernière minute tante Irène a décidé de m’emmener en Italie.
3. J’ai donc pris l’avion pour Rome au lieu de celui pour Paris.
4. À côté de moi, il y avait un jeune homme très sympa.
5. Nous avons beaucoup bavardé en cours de route.
6. Pendant le voyage, nous avons appris à nous connaître.
7. À la fin du voyage, nous étions amis.
8. C’est grâce à ma tante Irène que je l’ai rencontré.
Reconstruct each sentence by placing the fragments in the appropriate order.
1. au marché / est allé / Luc / pour / acheter / des légumes
2. sa copine Mireille / a rencontré / il / des salades / devant / le stand
3. ils / leurs achats / ont fait / beaucoup discuter / sans
4. puis / ils / du coin / sont allés / au café
5. au sujet / les deux amis / ont eu / de vacances / une discussion / d’un projet
6. chez eux / puis / ils / sont rentrés
Using the prepositions à, chez, de, and en
These prepositions are among the most frequently used prepositions in the French language. They are often used to express possession or to indicate locations.
Using à and de to express possession
The prepositional phrase à + noun/stress pronoun following the verb êtrehelps build sentences in which something belongs to someone. See Unit 12 to review stress pronouns.
The prepositional phrase de + noun helps build phrases that express possession.
Using the English as a guide, complete each sentence in French.
1. This is Luc’s house.
C’est la maison ______________________________________________________.
2. It belonged to his father.
Elle était ____________________________________________________________.
3. But now it belongs to him.
Mais maintenant elle est _________________________________________________.
4. The roof of the house is very old.
____________________________________________________________________ est très vieux.
5. He will repair it when he gets the deed of the house.
Il le fera réparer quand il recevra l’acte notarié ________________________________________.
6. The town’s only construction company belongs to his cousin.
La seule entreprise de construction _________________________________________________.
Using the verb être followed by the preposition à, build sentences in which you say that an object belongs to the person(s) in parentheses.
1. la poupée (Suzette) ____________________________________________________
2. le sac à dos (l’alpiniste) __________________________________________________
3. le couteau (le boucher) __________________________________________________
4. les valises (les passagers) _________________________________________________
5. le sac à main (la dame) __________________________________________________
6. la Peugeot (M. Lemaire) __________________________________________________
Using à and de to express purpose or quality
Some prepositional phrases including à serve to express the purpose for which something is intended.
Some prepositional phrases including de are used to indicate the material out of which something is made.
Note that the preposition en is often used in the same way as de for materials.
les gants de laine = les gants en laine
les tasses de porcelaine = les tasses en porcelaine
le vase de cristal = le vase en cristal
la clôture de fer = la clôture en fer
On the lines provided, write the letter of the correct translation for each item on the left.
Use the appropriate preposition and a word from the list to complete each sentence.
cristal / or / soie / caoutchouc / laine / bois
1. J’ai une jolie robe ________________________.
2. Tu as un beau pull _______________________.
3. Ces pneus ____________________ sont pour la bicyclette.
4. Ces vases ___________________ sont très chers.
5. Ces bijoux ___________________ sont magnifiques.
6. Cette cuillère ___________________ sert à mélanger la salade.
Using à and de to tell time
In formal settings, the French use the twenty-four-hour clock to indicate the time of day, but in familiar conversation they use twelve hours as we do. See how the following prepositional phrases correspond to the English terminology of A.M. or P.M.
The prepositions à and de are used to express at and from a specific time.
Complete each sentence with the appropriate time.
1. Je me lève ________________________________________________________.
2. Je quitte la maison __________________________________________________.
3. Je prends le déjeuner ________________________________________________.
4. Je retourne aux cours/au travail _________________________________________.
5. Je réponds à mes e-mails _____________________________________________.
6. Je rentre chez moi ___________________________________________________.
Using à, en, chez, and de to indicate location
The prepositional phrase à + place helps indicate where. Remember to contract the preposition à with the article le (→ au) and with the article les (→ aux).
Prepositional phrases including à/au/aux and de/du/des as well as en are used to indicate geographical areas, destinations, and origination points.
The prepositional phrase chez + noun/stress pronoun serves to express at or to someone’s residence or place of business.
Complete each sentence appropriately, using translations of the words in parentheses.
1. On trouve du pâté de foie gras _______________________________________. (in Alsace)
2. On fait du champagne _______________________________________. (in Champagne)
3. On trouve la Tour Eiffel _______________________________________. (in Paris)
4. Le Conseil de l’Europe se trouve __________________________. (in Strasbourg)
5. Le Festival du Film a lieu _______________________________________. (in Cannes)
6. La ville de Marseilles est _______________________________________. (in Provence)
7. On mange un couscous excellent _______________________________________. (in Algeria)
8. Il y a un beau festival de neige _______________________________________. (in Montreal)
Complete each sentence by telling where the people just came from.
1. Il est New Yorkais. Il vient d’arriver ____________________________________.
2. Elle est allemande. Elle vient d’arriver __________________________________.
3. Il est mexicain. Il vient d’arriver _______________________________________.
4. Elle est australienne. Elle vient d’arriver ________________________________.
5. Ils sont parisiens. Ils viennent d’arriver __________________________________.
6. Elle est suisse. Elle vient d’arriver _____________________________________.
Using à and en for transportation
Prepositional phrases à and en + noun are often used with means of transportation.
Tell where each location is and how you get there from where you live.
1. Paris est _____________________ . J’y vais ____________________________ .
2. Washington, D.C. est _____________________ . J’y vais ___________________.
3. Mexico City est _____________________ . J’y vais ________________________ .
4. La statue de la Liberté est _____________________ . J’y vais _______________ .
5. L’Alamo est _____________________ . J’y vais _________________________ .
6. Mon café préféré est ___________________ . J’y vais _____________________.
Varying structures and word order in prepositional phrases
Complete sentences often include a variety of prepositional phrases such as preposition + noun, e.g., en soie(out of silk); preposition + pronoun, e.g., chez moi(at my house); preposition + verb, e.g., pour aimer(in order to love); preposition + adverb, e.g., près d’ici(near here).
Prepositional phrases including nouns
There are numerous prepositional noun phrases. Generally these will occupy the same position in French and in English. Consider the following sentence:
There are four prepositional phrases in this sentence. They serve to establish where, how, around what time, and with whom someone left. The prepositions used in this sentence link the compound verb est parti to various nouns:
À introduces a place: l’école
En introduces a means of transportation: voiture
Avec introduces a companion: son copain
Avant introduces a time: huit heures
Be aware that a French prepositional phrase does not necessarily translate as a prepositional phrase in English. In French there are verbs that are always followed by a preposition (thereby introducing a prepositional phrase), whereas their English counterparts are not followed by a preposition (these are often followed by a direct object—not a prepositional phrase).
The phrase to play the violin includes no preposition in English, but the phrase jouer du violon includes the preposition de, which contracts with the article le to produce du(or with the articleles to producedes). Many faire idioms include the preposition de in French, whereas the English translation does not.
Similarly, some French verbs are followed by the preposition à, which contracts with the article le to produce au and with the article les to produce aux.
On the other hand, there are verbs that are followed by a preposition in English (thereby introducing a prepositional phrase), whereas their French counterparts are not followed by a preposition (these are followed by a direct object—not a prepositional phrase).
In addition, be aware of phrases such as le cours du soir(the night class). These prepositional phrases (which include two nouns) follow reverse word order in the English translation from French. When you encounter them, remember that the French phrase will position the main idea (the fact that it is a class) in first place followed by the detail (it is offered at night):
Note how class (cours) comes before night (soir) in the French phrase whereas it is the opposite in the English phrase. Here are some other examples of such prepositional phrases:
Complete each sentence with a preposition only when necessary. Place an X on the line when no preposition is needed.
1. Marc a perdu son équipement de tennis. Il cherche ses chaussures _______________________ tennis depuis ce matin.
2. Il doit _______________________ écouter sa mère. Elle lui dit toujours de les ranger.
3. Il va téléphoner _______________________ son copain Nicolas pour voir s’il les a vus.
4. Nicolas est en train de regarder _______________________ un match de foot au stade.
5. Marc ne peut donc pas jouer _______________________ tennis aujourd’hui. Zut!
6. Par contre, il peut jouer _______________________ piano. Il a un récital le mois prochain.
Express the following ideas in French. Beware of word order.
1. the French class: français/classe _______________________________
2. the living room: séjour/salle ___________________________________
3. the fruit salad: fruits/salade ____________________________________
4. the book index: matières/table ________________________________
5. the essay topic: essai/sujet _____________________________________
6. the math problem: maths/problème _______________________________
Prepositional phrases that include pronouns
Prepositional phrases may include stress pronouns such as moi, demonstrative pronouns such as celui-ci, possessive pronouns such as le mien, and interrogative pronouns such as quoi.
Once again, beware of making appropriate contractions whenever the prepositions à and de or complex prepositions including à or de are followed by the articles le and les.
Prepositional phrases that include adverbs
A preposition may also introduce other function words such as adverbs. This type of prepositional phrase is often idiomatic.
Complete each sentence appropriately, using translations of the words in parentheses. Use the familiar tu form for you when necessary.
1. J’ai garé ma voiture _______________________________________________________________________la tienne. (next to)
2. Je suis _______________________________________________________________. (at your house)
3. Où es-tu? Je t’attends. Je ne veux pas aller au concert _______________________. (without you)
4. J’ai deux billets et j’ai payé très cher __________________________________________________. (for these tickets)
5. . ____________________________________________________ j’adore ce groupe. (In addition)
6. Ah bon! Tu es _______________________________________________________________________. (at your neighbor’s)
7. Heureusement que tu n’es pas . (far from here)
8. . ____________________________________________________________ parlez-vous? (Of what)
9. Rentre vite! Il peut venir _________________________________________________________ s’il veut. (with us)
10. Non? Alors dis-lui _______________________________________________________________________! (See you soon)
Read the following paragraph, then answer the questions in complete sentences. Be sure to include prepositional phrases such as à la maison (at home).
Paul habite à Québec, au Canada. Il vit encore chez ses parents. Il arrive au bureau à 9 h moins 10. Il travaille chaque jour de 9 h du matin à 5 h du soir. Le lundi il va à l’université où il suit des cours de programmeur. Les autres jours il rentre chez lui. Quelquefois il voyage aux États-Unis pour rencontrer des clients.
1. Dans quelle ville habite Paul?
2. Dans quel pays est la ville de Québec?
3. Où est-ce qu’il vit encore?
4. Où est-ce qu’il va chaque matin?
5. À quelle heure est-ce qu’il commence à travailler?
6. Où est-ce qu’il va le lundi après le travail?
7. Où est-ce qu’il va les autres jours après le travail?
8. Où est-ce qu’il voyage quelquefois?
Write a short description of where you live and what your daily routine is like. Follow the suggested guidelines in the vocabulary provided.
La ville où j’habite / le pays où est la ville / là où je vis maintenant / où je vais chaque matin / à quelle heure je quitte la maison / où je vais après le travail ou les cours
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________