French grammar: prépositions de temps

What this grammar point covers

Prepositions of time in French are small words used to talk about when something happens. They help you say things like 'in the morning', 'on Monday', or 'at 8 o'clock'.

When to use it

Use these prepositions to say when an event happens, how long it lasts, or when it started. For example, to talk about a specific time, a month, a day, or a duration.

Key forms

• à (à 8 heures)
• en (en janvier)
• le (le lundi)
• depuis (depuis 2010)
• pendant (pendant une heure)

Examples

Tips

• Use 'à' for clock times and small moments (à midi, à minuit, à 7 heures).
• Use 'en' for months, years, and seasons (except 'au printemps' for spring).
• Don't use 'le' with days if you mean just one specific day; use it for habits or repeated actions.

Exceptions and edge cases

• For 'spring', use 'au printemps' instead of 'en printemps'.
• With 'depuis', the action usually continues into the present.