Facts about « Prepositions »
Most french students have difficulties to understand « how » and « when » to use the 4 main « Prepositions » :
- IN : Time, Places, Position, Expressions
- ON : Time, Places, Position, Expressions
- TO : Places, Position, Expressions
- AT : Time, Places, Position, Expressions
| IN | ON | TO | AT |
| « I am leaving in 5 mn » | « See you on Friday » | « She has gone to the shop » | « I will meet you at 2 PM » |
| « I am in the room » | « I am sitting on a chair » | « They got to the hotel at midnight » | « She is at the hairdresser » |
| « I am in my office » | « There are many « star-ters » on this menu » | « To me, … » (Opinion) | « The garden is at the back of the house » |
| « In my opinion, … » | « The car is on fire » | « I am going to Paris » | « He left school at 16 » |
Tips & Trick
- When teaching the difference between IN and AT, explain to the students that IN is used to describe a place.
Example : We are in a beautiful garden. - Whereas AT is used to explain a place we are at a precise and specific moment in time.
Example : He is at the airport / at the doctor / at the hairdresser. - Get student to give relevant examples, using the different prepositions.
Example :
– We are at Appleton School, in Ozoir.
– My pen is on the table.
– I am going to Paris on Monday. - Give student as many idioms / expressions as possible that require using prepositions
Example :
– On the one hand …on the other
– In my opinion, …
