Nous sommes arrivés en retard à cause de la pluie.
English: We arrived late because of the rain.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Adverbes, comparatifs et prépositions
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In French, complex prepositions are groups of two or more words that function together as a preposition. They show relationships like cause, purpose, or time.
When to use it
Use complex prepositions in French to express reasons, places, comparisons, exceptions, or relationships between things. They often connect ideas in a more precise way than simple prepositions.
Key forms
- à cause de
- grâce à
- en face de
- au lieu de
- par rapport à
- en dehors de
- en raison de
Examples
Elle a réussi grâce à son travail.
English: She succeeded thanks to her work.
La voiture est garée en face de la maison.
English: The car is parked in front of the house.
Il a choisi le train au lieu de l’avion.
English: He chose the train instead of the plane.
En dehors de ce problème, tout va bien.
English: Apart from this problem, everything is fine.
Tips
- Remember that complex prepositions are followed by a noun or pronoun, never a verb.
- Do not separate the words in a complex preposition; they work together as one unit.
- Some complex prepositions can change meaning if you change a word, so memorize them as fixed expressions.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some complex prepositions require specific articles or forms after them (e.g., 'en face de la maison', not just 'en face maison').