How to use French prepositions à and de

French prepositions 'à' and 'de' are fundamental in constructing sentences, but they can be tricky for English speakers. Let's explore their main uses and provide some practical examples.

Uses of 'à'

Location

'À' often indicates a specific location:

• Je vais à Paris. (I'm going to Paris.)
• Elle est à la maison. (She's at home.)

Time

It can also express time:

• Le train part à 14h. (The train leaves at 2 PM.)

Indirect object

'À' introduces indirect objects:

• Je parle à mon ami. (I'm talking to my friend.)

Uses of 'de'

Origin or possession

'De' indicates origin or possession:

• Je viens de Londres. (I come from London.)
• Le livre de Pierre. (Pierre's book.)

Description

It's used for description or material:

• Une tasse de café. (A cup of coffee.)
• Un sac en cuir. (A leather bag.)

After certain verbs

Some verbs require 'de':

• J'ai besoin de dormir. (I need to sleep.)
• Il a décidé de partir. (He decided to leave.)

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't confuse 'à' for movement and 'en' for countries: Correct: Je vais à Paris, but Je vais en France.

• Remember that 'de' often contracts with 'le' and 'les': du (de + le), des (de + les)

Practice using these prepositions in context to improve your French fluency. With time, their usage will become more natural.