French Grammar: French Preposition (ï¿½)

Definition: À is a very important preposition, despite its tiny size. Its many different meanings and uses in French include all of the following.

Location or destination
J'habite à Paris I live in Paris
Je vais à Rome I'm going to Rome
Je suis à la banque I'm at the bank
Distance in time or space
J'habite à 10 mètres de lui
I live 10 meters from him

Il est à 5 minutes de moi
He is 5 minutes from me
Point in time
Nous arrivons à 7h00 We arrive at 7:00
Il est mort à 100 ans He died at the age of 100
Manner, style, or characteristic
Il habite à la française
He lives in the French style
un enfant aux yeux bleus
blue-eyed child / child with blue eyes
fait à la main
made by hand
aller à pied
to go on / by foot
Possession
un ami à moi a friend of mine
Ce livre est à Jean This is Jean's book
Measurement
acheter au kilo to buy by the kilogram
payer à la semaine to pay by the week
Purpose or use
une tasse à thé teacup / cup for tea
un sac à dos backpack / pack for the back
In the passive infinitive
À louer for rent
Je n'ai rien à lire I have nothing to read