What are Common French Prepositions?
Common French prepositions are small words that show the relationship between other words in a sentence — like location, direction, time, and connection. Mastering the top 20 prepositions is key to fluent French.
Common French prepositions are words like à (to/at), de (of/from), en (in), sur (on), and sous (under) that link nouns and verbs to show relationships. Prepositions are essential for accurate French sentences.
- •à = to, at, in
- •de = of, from
- •en = in, to (countries)
- •sur = on, over
- •sous = under, beneath
- •pendant = during, for
- •avant = before
- •après = after
- •vers = towards, around
- •chez = at the home/place of
Step-by-step worked examples
Complete: Je vais ___ France.
Going to a country uses 'en' (not 'à'). Answer: Je vais en France (I go to France).
Complete: Le livre est ___ la table.
On top of uses 'sur'. Answer: Le livre est sur la table (The book is on the table).
Complete: Je reste ___ 9h ___ 17h.
Durations use 'de' and 'à' for time range. Answer: Je reste de 9h à 17h (I stay from 9am to 5pm).
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which preposition means 'from' in French?
Q2.Choose the correct preposition: Elle est ___ la maison.
Q3.What preposition goes with 'I'm staying for 2 weeks'?
Q4.Fill in: Nous parlons ___ vous.
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Common French Prepositions?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Using 'à' for all destinations. — Correct: Use 'à' for cities (à Paris), 'en' for countries (en France), 'au' for masculine countries (au Japon)
Forgetting prepositions because English omits them. — Correct: French requires prepositions—'I go to the store' is 'Je vais au magasin,' not 'Je vais le magasin'
Using 'sur' when you mean 'on' a schedule. — Correct: 'sur' is physical 'on'; for time use other prepositions (lundi = on Monday)
Confusing 'de' and 'du/de la' contractions. — Correct: Learn the contraction rules: de + le = du; de + la = de la; de + l' = de l'; de + les = des
FAQ
What are the most common French prepositions?
The top 10 are: à, de, en, sur, sous, pour, par, avec, pendant, and chez. Master these first for everyday conversation.
How do you know which preposition to use?
Context matters—prepositions show relationships (place, time, reason). Learn prepositions in phrases, not isolated.
Do French prepositions contract with articles?
Yes: à + le = au; à + les = aux; de + le = du; de + les = des. This is essential for correct French.
Why are French prepositions hard for English speakers?
English and French use different prepositions for the same ideas. You must learn them as part of phrases.