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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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