Je pense à mon ami.
English: I am thinking about my friend.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Prépositions
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In French, many verbs are followed by specific prepositions, such as 'à', 'de', or no preposition at all. These prepositions are important because they can change the meaning of a verb or show how it connects to other words in a sentence.
When to use it
Use these structures when a French verb requires a preposition before its object or another verb. Some verbs always need a certain preposition, and this must be memorized. The preposition shows the relationship between the verb and what comes after.
Key forms
- verbe + à + nom/pronom
- verbe + de + nom/pronom
- verbe + nom/pronom (no preposition)
Examples
Elle parle de son voyage.
English: She is talking about her trip.
Nous aidons nos parents.
English: We help our parents.
Il commence à travailler.
English: He starts to work.
Tu arrêtes de fumer.
English: You stop smoking.
Tips
- Always learn French verbs together with their prepositions.
- Some verbs change meaning depending on the preposition used.
- Do not translate prepositions directly from your language; check which preposition the French verb needs.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs can take more than one preposition, but the meaning changes (for example, 'penser à' vs 'penser de').
- A few verbs do not use any preposition, even if your language does.