Mastering French Prepositions: “à” and “de” Made Simple!
Learning French can be a rewarding journey, but it’s not without its challenges. One of the most common stumbling blocks for learners is mastering the prepositions “à” and “de.” These tiny words can make a big difference in your sentences, and using them incorrectly can lead to confusion. Luckily, we have released a new video and written a blog post to help you finally master these tricky prepositions!
In this blog post, we’ll break down the key points from the video, explain why “à” and “de” are so important, and share tips to help you use them with confidence.
Why Are “à” and “de” So Important in French?
Prepositions like “à” and “de” are essential in French grammar. They connect verbs, nouns, and phrases, giving your sentences meaning and structure. However, their usage isn’t always intuitive, especially for non-native speakers.
For example:
- Je commence à apprendre le français (I’m starting to learn French).
- J’ai décidé de voyager en France (I decided to travel to France).
Why do we use “à” with commencer but “de” with décider? That’s where things get tricky!
In this article, we’ll focus on the structure:
Conjugated verb + preposition (“à” or “de”) + infinitive verb.
This is one of the most common patterns in French, and mastering it will significantly improve your fluency.
What You’ll Learn in the OuiTeach Video
OuiTeach’s latest video is a game-changer for anyone struggling with French prepositions. Here’s what’s covered:
1. A Simple Method to Remember “à” and “de”
Instead of memorizing endless lists, the video introduces a straightforward method to help you understand when to use “à” and “de.” This approach focuses on patterns and context, making it easier to internalize the rules.
2. 15 Essential Verbs with “à” and 15 with “de”
The video highlights 15 common verbs that require “à” and 15 that require “de.” Each verb is paired with practical examples to show how they’re used in real-life sentences.
3. Structures Without “à” or “de”
Did you know that some verbs don’t require either preposition? The video also covers four key structures where “à” and “de” are omitted entirely.
15 Verbs That Use “à”
Here are 15 common verbs that are typically followed by the preposition “à” in the structure:
Conjugated verb + “à” + infinitive verb.
Commencer à (to start to)
Je commence à lire un livre. (I’m starting to read a book.)
Aider à (to help to)
Il m’aide à faire mes devoirs. (He’s helping me do my homework.)
Réussir à (to succeed in)
Elle a réussi à passer l’examen. (She succeeded in passing the exam.)
Apprendre à (to learn to)
Nous apprenons à parler français. (We’re learning to speak French.)
Chercher à (to try to)
Il cherche à comprendre. (He’s trying to understand.)
Continuer à (to continue to)
Elle continue à travailler dur. (She continues to work hard.)
Hésiter à (to hesitate to)
Il hésite à répondre. (He hesitates to answer.)
Se préparer à (to prepare to)
Je me prépare à partir. (I’m preparing to leave.)
S’habituer à (to get used to)
Ils s’habituent à vivre ici. (They’re getting used to living here.)
Inviter à (to invite to)
Je t’invite à dîner. (I’m inviting you to dinner.)
Obliger à (to force to)
On m’a obligé à partir. (I was forced to leave.)
Passer du temps à (to spend time doing)
Il passe du temps à lire. (He spends time reading.)
Renoncer à (to give up on)
Elle a renoncé à son projet. (She gave up on her project.)
Servir à (to be used for)
Ce couteau sert à couper le pain. (This knife is used to cut bread.)
Tenir à (to insist on)
Je tiens à te remercier. (I insist on thanking you.)
15 Verbs That Use “de”
Here are 15 common verbs that are typically followed by the preposition “de” in the structure:
Conjugated verb + “de” + infinitive verb.
Décider de (to decide to)
J’ai décidé de partir tôt. (I decided to leave early.)
Essayer de (to try to)
Il essaie de comprendre. (He’s trying to understand.)
Oublier de (to forget to)
Elle a oublié de fermer la porte. (She forgot to close the door.)
Arrêter de (to stop doing)
Il a arrêté de fumer. (He stopped smoking.)
Refuser de (to refuse to)
Elle refuse de répondre. (She refuses to answer.)
Rêver de (to dream of)
Je rêve de voyager en Europe. (I dream of traveling to Europe.)
Avoir besoin de (to need to)
J’ai besoin de parler avec toi. (I need to talk to you.)
Avoir envie de (to feel like doing)
J’ai envie de manger une glace. (I feel like eating ice cream.)
Avoir peur de (to be afraid of)
Il a peur de parler en public. (He’s afraid of speaking in public.)
S’occuper de (to take care of)
Elle s’occupe de ses enfants. (She takes care of her children.)
Se souvenir de (to remember to)
Je me souviens de cette chanson. (I remember this song.)
Parler de (to talk about)
Nous parlons de nos projets. (We’re talking about our plans.)
Profiter de (to take advantage of)
Il profite de ses vacances. (He’s taking advantage of his vacation.)
Se passer de (to do without)
Je ne peux pas me passer de café. (I can’t do without coffee.)
S’arrêter de (to stop doing)
Il s’est arrêté de pleuvoir. (It stopped raining.)
4 Examples Where No Preposition Is Used
In some cases, French verbs don’t require a preposition before the infinitive verb. These structures are exceptions to the usual “à” or “de” rules. Here are four common examples:
Pouvoir + infinitive (to be able to)
Je peux parler français. (I can speak French.)
Vouloir + infinitive (to want to)
Elle veut apprendre le piano. (She wants to learn the piano.)
Devoir + infinitive (to have to / must)
Nous devons partir maintenant. (We must leave now.)
Savoir + infinitive (to know how to)
Il sait jouer de la guitare. (He knows how to play the guitar.)
Why Are These Verbs Special?
These verbs are often used without a preposition when they express:
A movement or direction (e.g., descendre, monter, aller).
A will, desire, or opinion (e.g., vouloir, aimer, espérer).
Test Your Knowledge with the Interactive Quiz
Learning prepositions like “à” and “de” is one thing, but applying them correctly is another. That’s why we have created an interactive quiz to help you put your knowledge into practice.
Why Take the Quiz?
The quiz is a fun and engaging way to reinforce what you’ve learned in the video. It’s designed to challenge you with real-life examples and scenarios, so you can see how “à” and “de” are used in context.
How to Access the Quiz
Taking the quiz is easy! Simply click on the link below to get started:
Final Thoughts
Mastering “à” and “de” is a crucial step in becoming fluent in French. With OuiTeach’s new video, the interactive quiz, and these examples, you’ll gain the tools and confidence you need to use these prepositions correctly.
🚀 Don’t let prepositions hold you back! Watch the video, take the quiz, and start improving your French today!