French Prepositions with Nouns: Essential Rules and Usage

French prepositions can be tricky, especially when it comes to their use with nouns.

While articles are generally more common in French than in English, certain prepositions are often followed directly by nouns without articles.

Let's explore these rules and exceptions to help you use prepositions correctly in French.

Prepositions Usually Followed by Nouns Without Articles

Avec (With)

"Avec" is typically used directly before a noun without an article:

• J'ai acheté une voiture avec climatisation. (I bought a car with air conditioning.)
• Elle répond toujours avec grâce. (She always responds gracefully.)

En (In, By)

"En" is often followed by a noun without an article:

• Mon responsable est en réunion. (My manager is in a meeting.)
• Nous habitons en banlieue. (We live in the suburbs.)

Par (By, Through)

"Par" is usually used without an article before a noun:

• Ils communiquent par internet. (They communicate via the internet.)
• Je l'ai découvert par hasard. (I discovered it by chance.)

Sans (Without)

"Sans" is typically followed directly by a noun:

• Ne sors pas sans parapluie. (Don't go out without an umbrella.)
• Elle est sans préjugés. (She is unbiased.)

Exceptions: When to Use Articles

While these prepositions often appear without articles, there are exceptions, particularly when referring to specific nouns:

• Elle répond toujours avec la grâce d'une princesse. (She always responds with the grace of a princess.)
• Ne sors pas sans le parapluie que Michel t'a donné. (Don't go out without the umbrella Michel gave you.)

Prepositions Sometimes Used Without Articles

De (Of, From)

"De" can be used with or without articles, depending on the context:

• Il est impensable de mourir de faim. (It's unthinkable to die of hunger.)
• Aimez-vous les films de guerre ? (Do you like war movies?)

Pour (For)

"Pour" sometimes appears without an article:

• Il a été condamné pour vol. (He was convicted for theft.)
• Le restaurant est fermé pour congé annuel. (The restaurant is closed for the annual holiday.)

Sous (Under)

"Sous" can be used directly with nouns in certain expressions:

• Les taupes vivent sous terre. (Moles live underground.)
• Il l'a fait sous prétexte de me protéger. (He did it under the pretext of protecting me.)

Practice Makes Perfect

To master these prepositions, practice is key. Try creating sentences using each preposition with different nouns. leçon.ai offers personalized exercises to help you internalize these rules and use prepositions confidently in your French conversations.

Conclusion

Understanding when to use French prepositions with or without articles is crucial for speaking and writing correctly.

Remember that avec, en, par, and sans usually don't require articles, while de, pour, and sous can vary.

Pay attention to context and specific expressions to determine whether an article is needed.