French Prepositions and Transport Modes

Vocabulary flashcards covering common French prepositions, their usages, transport rules for "en" versus "à", and associated movement verbs.

According to the transport guide, what rule determines when the preposition "en" is used with modes of transportation?

The preposition "en" is used when you are inside the vehicle ("On est à l'intérieur").

Which six modes of transportation are listed that take the preposition "en"?

Taxi (en taxi), avion (en avion), voiture (en voiture), bateau (en bateau), train (en train), and bus (en bus).

According to the transport guide, what rule determines when the preposition "à" is used with modes of transportation?

The preposition "à" is used when you are on or astride the transport ("On est sur").

Which four modes of travel or transport are listed that take the preposition "à"?

Vélo (à vélo), moto (à moto), pied (à pied), and cheval (à cheval).

Which French verbs of movement are listed as using "EN" or "À" for transport?

aller, partir, rentrer, se déplacer, se rendre, venir, and voyager.

What example sentence is given in the transport guide to demonstrate travel by car?

"Ils partent en voiture."

What is the general function of prepositions according to the French prepositions guide?

They connect words together and give meaning to the sentence ("Les prépositions lient les mots entre eux et donnent du sens à la phrase").

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "À"?

Usage: à + lieu (location). Example: "Je vais à Paris."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "DE"?

Usage: de + origine / possession. Example: "Je viens de France."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "EN" in the common prepositions overview?

Usage: en + moyen / lieu (means / place). Example: "Je vais en voiture."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "DANS"?

Usage: dans + endroit fermé (enclosed space). Example: "Le livre est dans le sac."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "SUR"?

Usage: sur + surface. Example: "Le livre est sur la table."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "SOUS"?

Usage: sous + en dessous de (underneath). Example: "Le chat est sous la table."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "DEVANT"?

Usage: devant + en avant de (in front of). Example: "Le vélo est devant la maison."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "DERRIÈRE"?

Usage: derrière + à l'arrière de (behind). Example: "Le chat est derrière le livre."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "ENTRE"?

Usage: entre + au milieu de deux (between / in the middle of two). Example: "Le banc est entre les arbres."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "À CÔTÉ DE"?

Usage: à côté de + près de (next to / beside). Example: "Le vélo est à côté de la lampe."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "PRÈS DE"?

Usage: près de + proximité (near / close to). Example: "Il y a un café près de chez moi."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "LOIN DE"?

Usage: loin de + éloignement (far from / distance). Example: "La montagne est loin de la ville."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "AVEC"?

Usage: avec + accompagnement (with / accompaniment). Example: "Je prends le petit déjeuner avec toi."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "SANS"?

Usage: sans + absence (without / absence). Example: "Je mange sans sucre."

What usage and example sentence are given for the preposition "POUR"?

Usage: pour + objectif / destinataire (for / objective / recipient). Example: "Ce cadeau est pour toi."

En (Transport Rule)

The preposition used before modes of transportation where one is inside ("on est à l'intérieur"), such as en taxi, en avion, en voiture, en bateau, en bus, or en train.

À (Transport Rule)

The preposition used before modes of transportation where one is positioned on top ("on est sur"), such as à vélo, à moto, à pied, or à cheval.

Verbs used with "en" and "à" for transportation

A group of movement and travel verbs that connect to transport prepositions: aller, partir, rentrer, se déplacer, se rendre, venir, and voyager.

En voiture

By car; uses the preposition "en" because the passenger is inside ("à l'intérieur"), as shown in the example: "Ils partent en voiture."

À pied

On foot; uses the preposition "à" following the rule for movement where one is on/atop ("sur").

À vélo

By bicycle / bike; uses the preposition "à" following the rule for transport where one sits on top ("sur").

À cheval

On horseback; uses the preposition "à" following the rule for transport where one sits on top ("sur").

À moto

By motorcycle; uses the preposition "à" following the rule for transport where one sits on top ("sur").

En avion

By airplane; uses the preposition "en" because passengers are inside ("à l'intérieur").

En train

By train; uses the preposition "en" because passengers are inside ("à l'intérieur").

En bateau

By boat; uses the preposition "en" because passengers are inside ("à l'intérieur").

En bus

By bus; uses the preposition "en" because passengers are inside ("à l'intérieur").

En taxi

By taxi; uses the preposition "en" because passengers are inside ("à l'intérieur").

Prépositions (Role)

Words that link words to each other and give meaning to the sentence ("lient les mots entre eux et donnent du sens à la phrase").

À (Preposition of Place)

A preposition denoting location/place ("à + lieu"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Je vais à Paris."

De

A preposition indicating origin or possession ("de + origine / possession"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Je viens de France."

En (Preposition of Means/Place)

A preposition indicating means or location ("en + moyen / lieu"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Je vais en voiture."

Dans

A preposition meaning in/inside an enclosed place ("dans + endroit fermé"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le livre est dans le sac."

Sur

A preposition meaning on a surface ("sur + surface"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le livre est sur la table."

Sous

A preposition meaning under/below ("sous + en dessous de"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le chat est sous la table."

Devant

A preposition meaning in front of ("devant + en avant de"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le vélo est devant la maison."

Derrière

A preposition meaning behind / at the back of ("derrière + à l'arrière de"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le chat est derrière le livre."

Entre

A preposition meaning between / in the middle of two ("entre + au milieu de deux"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le banc est entre les arbres."

À côté de

A prepositional phrase meaning next to / near ("à côté de + près de"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Le vélo est à côté de la lampe."

Près de

A prepositional phrase meaning near / close to, indicating proximity ("près de + proximité"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Il y a un café près de chez moi."

Loin de

A prepositional phrase meaning far from, indicating distance ("loin de + éloignement"), as illustrated by the sentence: "La montagne est loin de la ville."

Avec

A preposition meaning with, indicating accompaniment ("avec + accompagnement"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Je prends le petit déjeuner avec toi."

Sans

A preposition meaning without, indicating absence ("sans + absence"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Je mange sans sucre."

Pour

A preposition meaning for, indicating an objective or a recipient ("pour + objectif / destinataire"), as illustrated by the sentence: "Ce cadeau est pour toi."