A1.3 Prepositions of Place Before a Common or Proper Noun

Prepositions of place are short words placed before a noun to indicate the position or relative location of a person, an object, or a place in relation to another.

Prepositions before a common noun

Prepositions such as à (at), dans (in), sur (on), sous (under), devant (in front of), derrière (behind), à côté de (next to), entre (between), and others indicate the location in relation to a general object or place (common noun).

  • À la bibliothèque (At the library)
  • Dans le jardin (In the garden)
  • Sur la table (On the table)
  • Sous le pont (Under the bridge)
  • Devant l'école (In front of the school)
  • Derrière le bâtiment (Behind the building)
  • Chez le médecin (At the doctor's)

Prepositions before a proper noun

When it comes to proper nouns such as names of cities, people, countries, or continents, the prepositions used are mainly à (in), en (in), and au(x) (to/in), depending on the gender and number of the proper noun.

  • À Paris (In Paris)
  • En France (In France) (for singular feminine countries)
  • Au Japon (In Japan) (for singular masculine countries)
  • Aux États-Unis (In the United States) (for plural nouns)
  • Chez Marie-Cécile (At Marie-Cécile's)
Exercises on the same or a similar theme.
There are 20 exercises related to this sheet. Log in to your account to access them.