À French preposition
À is a very important French preposition, despite its tiny size. Its many different meanings and uses in French include all of the following.
I. Location or destination (learn more) J'habite à Paris Je vais à Rome Je suis à la banque I live in Paris I'm going to Rome I'm at the bank II. Distance in time or space J'habite à 10 mètres de lui Il est à 5 minutes de moi I live 10 meters from him He is 5 minutes from me III. Point in time Nous arrivons à 5h00 Il est mort à 92 ans We arrive at 5:00 He died at the age of 92 IV. Manner, style, or characteristic Il habite à la française un enfant aux yeux bleus fait à la main aller à pied He lives in the French style blue-eyed child / child with blue eyes made by hand to go on / by foot V. Possession (learn more) un ami à moi Ce livre est à Jean a friend of mine This is Jean's book VI. Measurement acheter au kilo payer à la semaine to buy by the kilogram to pay by the week VII. Purpose or use une tasse à thé un sac à dos teacup / cup for tea backpack / pack for the back VIII. In the passive infinitive À louer for rent Je n'ai rien à lire I have nothing to read
When followed by the definite articles le and les, à contracts with them into a single word: For example à + le = au au magasin à + les = aux aux maisons But... à + la à la à la banque à + l' à l' à l'hôpital
À does not contract with le and les when they are direct objects.
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Impersonal expressions are those which do not have a specific subject. In grammatical terms, "impersonal" does not mean cold, but rather invariable by grammatical person. There are a few things you need to know about French impersonal expressions: The French impersonal subject is either il or ce, whereas the English impersonal subject is "it." All of the French impersonal expressions can begin with il est or c'est with no difference in meaning; however, c'est is less formal than il est. Therefore, c'est is more common in spoken French, while il est is more common in written French. The French impersonal subject is either il or ce, whereas the English impersonal subject is "it." All of the French impersonal expressions can begin with il est or c'est with no difference in meaning; however, c'est is less formal than il est. Therefore, c'est is more common in spoken French, while il est is more common in written French. There are essentially two different types of constructions with impersonal expressions - either they are followed by que and a subordinate clause, or they are followed by a preposition and infinitive.
1. With que - When using il est or c'est + adjective followed by que, the verb in the subordinate clause may need to be in the indicative or subjunctive, depending on the meaning of the impersonal expression:
Il est probable que David le fait / C'est probable que David le fait. It's probable that David is doing it.
Il est possible que David le fasse / C'est possible que David le fasse. It's possible that David is doing it.
2. Without que - In expressions with il est or c'est + adjective followed by a preposition and infinitive, the choice of preposition depends on the type of subject:
a) When the impersonal subject is a dummy subject, you need the preposition de, and there are two possible constructions:
impersonal expression + de + intransitive infinitive Il est difficile de parler / C'est difficile de parler. It's hard to speak. (Speaking is hard)
or
impersonal expression + de + transitive infinitive + direct object Il est important de dire la vérité / C'est important de dire la vérité. It's important to tell the truth.
b) When the impersonal subject is a real subject and the infinitive is used intransitively as a passive infinitive, you must use the preposition à:
Il est bon à savoir / C'est bon à savoir. That's good to know.
Il est difficile à faire / C'est difficile à faire. That's hard to do.
There are dozens of French impersonal expressions; to learn how to use them, go back to page 1.
Many impersonal expressions require the subjunctive. To find out which ones, check The Subjunctivator!
Il est bizarre / C'est bizarre It's odd
Il est bon / C'est bon It's good
Il est certain / C'est certain It's certain
Il est clair / C'est clair It's clear/obvious
Il est convenable / C'est convenable It's proper/fitting
Il est difficile / C'est difficile It's difficult
Il est dommage / C'est dommage It's too bad
Il est douteux / C'est douteux It's doubtful
Il est essentiel / C'est essentiel It's essential
Il est étonnant / C'est étonnant It's amazing
Il est étrange / C'est étrange It's strange
Il est évident / C'est évident It's obvious
Il est facile / C'est facile It's easy
Il est faux / C'est faux It's false
Il est heureux / C'est heureux It's fortunate
Il est honteux / C'est honteux It's shameful
Il est important / C'est important It's important
Il est impossible / C'est impossible It's impossible
Il est improbable / C'est improbable It's improbable
Il est indispensable / C'est indispensable It's essential
Il est injuste / C'est injuste It's unfair
Il est inutile / C'est inutile It's useless
Il est juste / C'est juste It's right/fair
Il est naturel / C'est naturel It's natural
Il est nécessaire / C'est nécessaire It's necessary
Il est normal / C'est normal It's normal
Il est obligatoire / C'est obligatoire It's necessary
Il est peu probable / C'est peu probable It's not likely
Il est possible / C'est possible It's possible
Il est probable / C'est probable It's probable
Il est rare / C'est rare It's rare
Il est regrettable / C'est regrettable It's regrettable
Il est sûr / C'est sûr It's sure/certain
Il est surprenant / C'est surprenant It's surprising
Il est temps / C'est temps It's time
Il est triste / C'est triste It's sad
Il est urgent / C'est urgent It's urgent
Il est utile / C'est utile It's useful
Il est vrai / C'est vrai It's true
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