French Grammar in Context

Prepositions 191

Compound prepositions are also used with infinitives. These include afin de, avant de, à moins
de(see also Chapter 29).

6 ABSENCE OF PREPOSITION

Where English has a preposition i.e. in/on to indicate the day, time of day or date, French does
not use a preposition, e.g. (le) lundi, le soir, le lundi soir, le 8 septembre.

7 IDIOMATIC USE

The use of French prepositions can be particularly idiomaticand is frequently a source of error
amongst English speakers as there are so many faux amis. The foolproof answer is to learn them
individually!

See for further information: Coffman Crocker, pp. 70–87
Ferrar, pp. 250–1, 277–87
Hawkins and Towell, pp. 317–49
Judge and Healey, pp. 321–38
L’Huillier, pp. 354–83
Price, pp. 502–39
Turk and Vandaele, pp. 3, 269–76

EXERCISES

1 Complete the following sentences with the correct prepositions indicating place/direction
(à/au, dans, de, en, par, sur).
a J’ai mis le pain __ la corbeille __ la table.
b Il vient __ Genève __ Suisse.
c Elle habite __ Bretagne.
d Au retour je passerai __ Londres.
e Je vais __ la boulangerie.
f Ces arbres se trouvent __ Afrique.
g Ce vol va __ Paris __ Ankara.
h Les Pyrénées sont situées __ France et __ Espagne.
i Elle part en vacances __ Agadir ___ Maroc.
j Ils ont vécu __ la France de l’après-guerre.

2 Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition of time (à, après, dans, depuis,
en, jusqu’à, à partir de).
a __ un an j’aurai mon diplôme.
b __ 1944 les Forces Alliées ont libéré la France.
c Le train part __ 15.00 heures.