The preposition has no independent use, but it simultaneously establishes a syntactic (connects two members of a sentence) and semantic (gives meaning) relationship between two words in a sentence.

The preposition can only be used:
With nouns or proper names. Ce sont des cadeaux pour mon frère/ pour Jean. These are gifts for my brother/for Jean
With pronouns. Cette fleur est pour toi, ma chérie. This flower is for you, my dear.
With present or past infinitives. Je suis ravie d'avoir reçu tes lettres. I am happy when I receive your letters. Enchantée de vous voir ici. Nice to see you here.
With adjectives. C'est toujours plus facile à dire qu'à faire. It's always easier said than done.
So, what are prepositions used for? It can be used to express various relationships, for example:
Possessions: la guitare de mon mari (the guitar that belongs to my husband), la cire à modeler de son frère cadet (the clay that belongs to her younger brother)
Purpose, use: une tasse à café (coffee cup)
Time: je ferai ce travail à la fin de l’été (when it is the end of summer)
Prepositions have forms and they can be:
In simple words: (à, dans, par, sur, de, chez, pour, en, vers, avec, etc)
In compound words: (à travers de, auprès de, faut de, à cause de, à partir de, jusqu’à, etc)
Active participles: (suivant, durant) or passive participles: (exepté)

Preposition - in, on, with… “à”
It serves to form an indirect object (most often it answers the question of the dative case in Russian: to whom? to what?) and is used:
With a verb: A l’école primaire on apprend à lire et à écrire. In elementary school they teach reading and writing.
With a noun: je donne cette glace à ma fille I give this portion of ice cream to my daughter.
With adverb: J'ai beaucoup à lire. I need to read a lot.
With an adjective: Le chinois n’est pas facile à apprendre. Chinese is not an easy language to learn.

When this preposition forms an object with a noun, it conveys:
- the idea of ​​purpose, use: une tasse à café - a cup for coffee (a cup in which coffee is served), une assiette à soupe - a plate for soup (a plate in which soup is served).
Do not confuse constructions with the preposition “de”, which mean: une tqsse de café (pleine) cup (full) of coffee; une assiette de soupe (pleine) a plate (full) of soup.
- the idea of ​​the definition: une jeune fille aux yeux bleus - a girl with blue eyes; un garçon à la casquette - a boy in a cap.
When he introduces a circumstance, he conveys:
- idea of ​​location (currently or direction): Nous allons à Varsovie. We are going to Warsaw. Je travaille à la bibliothèque. I work in a library.
- the idea of ​​distance: L’école est à deux kilomètre de ma maison. The school is located two kilometers from my house.
- idea of ​​time: Je reviens à minuit. I'm coming back at midnight. A bientôt. See you. A demain. Till tomorrow. A mardi. Till Tuesday.
- the idea of ​​space: A deux pas d’ici. Two steps from here. A trois jours de navigation. Three days of sailing.
- idea of ​​measure: Vous vendez les fruits au poids ou à la pièce? Do you sell fruit by weight or by piece?
- the idea of ​​a course of action: Etre à la mode. Be in fashion. Parler à voix basse. Speak in a low voice.
- the idea of ​​accompaniment, accompaniment: Un coq au vin rouge. Rooster in red wine. Un gateaux à la crème. Cake with cream.
- the idea of ​​belonging (with the verb “être”): Ce portable est à ma bru. This mobile phone belongs to my sister-in-law.
- idea of ​​​​functioning: Le fournaue à gaz. Gas stove. Le moulin a vent. Windmill.

Before masculine country names beginning with a consonant to indicate location or direction:
Mes neveux vivent au Viêt-nam. My nephews live in Vietnam. Ma belle-mère va au Brésil. My mother-in-law is going to Brazil.
In some colloquial expressions:
- Au voleur! Stop the thief! A l'aide! Help! Au secours! For help!
- A table! Please come to the table!
- A votre santé! For your health! A votre! For yours (when they clink glasses).
- A vos souhaits! Be healthy! (when someone sneezes).
- Le fils à papa. Mama's boy (spoiled child).
- Travailler à la tête reposée. Work with a fresh mind.
- Dormir à poings refmés. To sleep deeply.
- A gauche. Left; à droite. right.

The preposition “à” merges with the definite article “le” and “les”, forming the forms of the fused article “au”, “aux”.
Some French verbs require the use of the preposition "à" before the indefinite form of the verb that follows it:
Start doing something - commencer; incite someone to do something - provoquer; help someone do something - aider; agree to something; do something - consentir; force someone to do something - obliger; teach someone to do something - apprendre; contribute to something - contributor; succeed - arriver, succeed in something - parvenir; prepare for something - se préparer; do something; strive to do something - aspirer; to condemn something - condamner; refuse to do something - renoncer; to address someone - s’adresser; to get used to someone - s"habituer, s"accoutumer, to do something; to be interested in someone - s’intéresser, in something; limit - se borner; invite to do something - inviter and many others.
Il continue à travailler à l’Université. He continues to work at the University. Je me suis déjà habituée à me choucher tard. I'm already used to going to bed late.

Preposition - in, on, for - “en”
The preposition "" is used mainly before a noun without an article to form an adverbial circumstance:
- places where they are going or where they live (before the names of feminine and masculine countries starting with a vowel):
J'habite en Pologne, mais je vais en misson en Irac. I live in Poland, but I'm going on a business trip to Iraq. Les enfants sont en classe. Children in class.
- abstract place:
En tête - In the head, en mémoire - in memory, en théorie - in theory, docteur en droit - doctor of law. Etre nul / être fotr en mathémqtiaue. Be a complete zero / be strong in mathematics. Lire et écrire en russe. Read and write in Russian.
- time (month, year, season):
Je suis née en octobre en automne en 1987. I was born in October, autumn, in 1987.

It is used to mean:
- duration of action:
Les ouvriers ont monté la machine en trois jours. Workers installed the mechanism in 3 days.
- mode of action:
Elles travaillaient en silence. They worked in silence. Etre en uniforme. Be in uniform. Couper le poulet en quatre morceaux. Cut the chicken into 4 pieces.
- thanks movement:
En avoin - By plane, en auto / voiture - by car, en train - by train, en bus - by bus, en métro - by metro, en tram - by tram, en trolleybus - by trolleybus, en bateau - by ship ( move in a closed space). This also includes - on roller skates: en rollers.
But: à pied - on foot, à cheval - on horseback, à moto - on a motorcycle, à vélo/ bicyclette - on a bicycle (move in open space)
Often the preposition “en” is used to convey various definitions and characteristics: une robe en soie - silk dress, une montre en or - gold watch, un mur en bois - wooden wall, un vase en verre - glass vase, une clé en fer - iron key, des gants en cuir - leather gloves - (literal meaning - the material from which a dress, clock, wall, etc. is made), un poème en prose - a poem in prose (characteristic), mourir en héros - to die hero (en=comme as hero).
But:
Le coeur d'or. Heart of gold, les cheveux d'or. golden hair (figuratively - “de”).
- physical and moral condition:
Mon époux était en colère. My husband was angry.
But:
Etre de bonne / mauvaise humeure. Be in a good/bad mood.
- with pronouns:
Je sens en lui de la force. I feel the strength in him.
You can say "woolen sweater" with the preposition "en" or "de". But if the subject is a pronoun, then only the preposition “en” can be used before the word denoting the material:
Regarde ce pull. Look at this sweater. Il est en laine, non? Is it wool?
In combination, the prepositions “de” and “en” mean sequential development:
Etre de plus en plus pauvre. Becoming poor. Son état s'améliorait d'heure en heure. Her condition improved every hour.
"En" is the only preposition that, when combined with an active participle, forms a gerund:
En lisant - Reading, en regardant - looking, en sortant - going out.
The preposition “en” is often used in colloquial expressions:
En un clin d'oeil. In an instant, instantly.
Couper un cheveu en quatre. To be clever, to be sophisticated, to engage in nonsense. (compliquer inutilement les choses)
Se deguiser en Zorro. Change clothes, dress up as Zorro.
En plain rue. In the middle of the street. En plain air. Open air. En plain figure. Right in the face.
Prendre qn en grippe. To dislike someone. (se mettre à le détester)
Etre en rapport avec qn. Be in contact with someone.
En plain mer. In the open sea. En plain nuit. In the middle of the night, at night. En plain jour. During the day.

© Galina Vitalievna Grinchuk, 2018

ISBN 978-5-4490-3765-7

Created in the intellectual publishing system Ridero

Preface

A preposition is an unchangeable auxiliary part of speech that is used to connect words in a sentence and indicates various relationships between them.

The use of prepositions in the French language presents a certain difficulty, since prepositions in French are used much more often and play a more important role in it than in Russian due to the lack of declensions of nouns in French (which is why in many cases French prepositions are not translated into Russian language, but are expressed simply by the case form).

It is impossible to establish unambiguous correspondence between prepositions in French and cases in Russian, since, firstly, the same French preposition can correspond to different cases of the Russian language (for example, “Je suis venu de Moscow” - “I came from Moscow" (genitive case), Il parle de sa soeur" - "He talks about his sister" (prepositional case), Nous sommes contents de ce cadeau" - "We are happy with this gift" (dative case)) and, secondly , different French prepositions can correspond to the same case of the Russian language (For example: “Hélène part pour Paris” - Helen is leaving for Paris (accusative case), “Nous allons en Chine” - “We are going to China” (accusative case).

The use of a preposition, as well as its absence, must be remembered.

Chapter 1. Prepositions à and de. Merging articles with prepositions.

Chapter 2. Managing Verbs

Chapter 3. Simple prepositions of spaces.

The use of prepositions with the names of cities, countries, regions

Chapter 4. Simple prepositions of time

Chapter 5. Prepositions avant and devant (before)

Chapter 6. Prepositions après and derrière (after, for)

Chapter 7. Prepositions entre and parmi (between, among)

Chapter 8. Simple prepositions expressing objective relations

Chapter 9. Simple prepositions expressing logical relations

Chapter 10. Revision

Chapter 11. Complex prepositions

Keys to the exercises (Corrigés)

Chapter 1. Prepositions à and de

Prepositions à And de- two of the most common prepositions in French.

The preposition à means:

1) an action performed in relation to an object (addition corresponding to the dative case)

Envoie cette lettre à ton frère – Send this letter to your brother.

2) attitude towards the subject from the outside

Hélène plaît à Philippe – Philippe likes Hélène.

3) place, location

J’habite à Moscow – I live in Moscow.

Les soldats vont à la guerre - Soldiers go to war.

Je vais à la mer - I'm going to the sea

Elle va à l'école - She goes to school.

5) temporary relationships

Nous partirons à 9 heures - We will leave at 9 o'clock.

6) an instrument for performing an action

Ce tapis est fait à la main – This rug is made by hand.

7) method of performing an action

Aller à l’aventure – Go at random (Where your eyes look)

8) purpose of the item

C'est une boîte aux lettres - This is a mailbox.

9) belonging

A qui est ce cahier? – Ce cahier est à Daniel – Whose notebook is this? - This is Daniel's notebook.

10) distance

Cette ville se trouve à 3 kilometeres de Paris – this city is located three kilometers from Paris.

11) sign of an object

J’aime beaucoup le beurre à l’ail – I really love garlic butter.

Je suis monté en wagon à couchettes – I seol in a sleeping car.

12) Purpose of the item

Prends une bouteille à lait – Take a milk bottle (milk bottle)

The preposition de means:

1) belonging

C’est le livre de Monique – This is Monique’s book.

2) departure point

Je rentre du travail – I’m returning from work

3) origin

Je suis de Lille – I am from Lille.

4) the material from which the item is made

J’aime cette robe indienne – I love this chintz dress.

5) characteristic feature

C'est un homme de haute taille - This is a tall man.

6) measure, weight, quantity

Donne-moi un verre d'eau s'il te plaît - Give me a glass of water, please.

Achète deux kilos de pomme de terre – Buy two kilos of potatoes.

Il a beaucoup d'amis - He has many friends.

7) a) beginning of the action

Ce magasin est ouvert de 9 heures à 18 heures – This store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

b) time of action

Je prends tranquillement mon café du matin – I calmly drink my morning coffee.

C’est un conte de Pouchkine – This is Pushkin’s fairy tale

Pretext de Also:

– introduces complements of some verbs and adjectives.

Je suis très content de mon voyage – I am very pleased with my trip.

Elle a orné sa chambre de fleurs – She decorated her room with flowers.

– used after a verb in the negative form instead of an indefinite or partial article.

Compare:

Tu as de la chance (You are lucky) and Tu n’as pas de chance (You are unlucky)

Nous avons du fromage (We have cheese) and Nous n’avons pas de fromage (We have no cheese)

– replaces the plural indefinite article when an adjective precedes a noun.

Compare:

J'ai acheté des fleurs magnifiques (I bought wonderful flowers)

J'ai acheté de belles fleurs (I bought beautiful flowers)

Merging the prepositions à and de with articles

In some cases, prepositions à And de merge with articles.

a + le = au (Je vais au cinema)

a + la = à la (Elle reste à la maison)

a + l’ = a l' (Nous allons à l'exposition)

a + les = aux(Le professeur parle aux éleves)

de +le = du (Je reviens du parc)

de + la = de la (Il sort de la maison)

de + l’ = de l' (Les enfants reviennent de l'école)

de + les = des (Il me parle des éleves)

Exercise 1

Insert the prepositions à or de (Don't forget about merging prepositions with articles!).

1. Demain tu vas… l’école.

2. Ce livre est… moi.

3. Nous habitons… Moscow.

4. Vite... table! Le déjeuner est prêt!

5. C'est la chambre... ma mère.

6. Céline plaît... tous les garçons de sa classe.

7. On a tué mon grand-père... la guerre.

8. Demain je metrai mes habits… fête.

9. C’est une fille... les cheveux blonds et... les yeux clairs

10. C'est un homme... taille moyenne.

11. Je ne pourrai pas assister… cette réunion.

12. Envoie cette lettre... ta copine.

13. J'ai déjà vu ce pont... pierre.

14. Parle... tes aventures... ta mère.

15. J'aime cette tranquillité... le soir.

16. J'aime beaucoup m'asseoir... la fenêtre.

17. Nous partons... 7 heures.

18. Tu veux un verre… eau?

19. Ils ont du se sauver... la nage.

20. Achète 2 kilogrammes... sucre, s’il te plaît.

21. Pensez... vos enfants!

22. Qu’est-ce que tu penses… ce spectacle?

23. Ce dessin a été fait… le crayon.

24. Des milliers... gens sont venus... la fête.

25. Ce texte est difficile… comprendre.

26. Pierre nous parle... ces vacancies.

27. Nous viendrons… deux.

28.Mr. Dupont est fier… sa fille.

29. On s’est donné rendez-vous sur la Place… la Concorde.

30. La banque est ouverte...9...19 heures.

31. Es-tu content… ton voyage en Greece?

32. Je connais tous les habitants de cet immeuble... premier... dernier étage.

33. …quelle heure tu partiras?

34. Mes parents reviendront... le mois... janvier.

35. Il va... la plage... vélo et moi, j'y vais... pied.

36. Elle m’a telephoné…minuit.

37. Sylvie chante... la radio.

38. J'ai vu un bon film... la télé hier.

39. J’aime beaucoup les vacances… été.

40. Je vois que vous n’êtes pas d’ici. … quelle ville êtes-vous venu?

Prepositions in French are unchangeable service parts of speech that serve to connect words in a sentence, indicate various relationships between these words (ownership, place, etc.) in a given sentence, and can also simply be a grammatical “tool” and then the prepositions themselves do not have much meaning.

Voilà la maison de mes parents. - This is my parents' house.

L'enfant jouait dans sa chambre. — The child was playing in his room.

Elle était assise en face de moi. “She was sitting opposite me.

Ce livre est difficile à trouver. — This book is difficult to find.

Prepositions in French can consist of one word: à, avec, chez, dans, en, entre, par, parmi, sans, sous, sur, etc. and from several words: à côté de, au lieu de, d’après, grâce à, près de, quant à, etc.

The meaning of some prepositions and their use

de - genitive case, belonging and other meanings:

le livre de Julien - Julien's book

le sens d'un mot - meaning of the word

la lumière de la lune - moonlight

un mur de béton - concrete wall

l'art de vivre - the art of living

trembler de peur - to tremble with fear

jouer de la guitare - play the guitar

un kilo de sucre - a kilogram of sugar

remercier d'un sourire - to thank with a smile

maigrir de 3 kilos - lose 3 kg

Il est difficile d'obtenir un visa pour ce pays. — It is difficult to get a visa to this country.

Nous sommes contents de notre travail. — We are satisfied with our work.

Beaucoup de gens ont un chien. — Many people have a dog.

Il revient de Paris. — He is returning from Paris. Il nous a parlé de sa famille. — He told us about his family.

Il est déjà revenu de son voyage. — He has already returned from his trip.

J'ai reçu une lettre de mon ami. — I received a letter from my friend.

Il descend du wagon. — He gets out of the carriage. Je suis de Minsk. - I am from Minsk.

à - dative case, direction (somewhere) and other meanings:

Je donne ce livre à mon ami. — I am giving this book to my friend.

Il va à l’école. - He is going to school.

Il monte au dernier etage. — He goes up to the top floor.

Ce livre est facile à lire. — This book is easy to read. Il est à Paris. - He's in Paris.

On part à midi (à deux heures). — They leave at noon (at two o’clock).

Nous allons à pied. - We're walking.

Parlez à voix basse! - Speak quietly!

Paul écrit une lettre à ses parents. — Paul writes a letter to his parents.

Vous pouvez prendre ce livre à la bibliothèque. — You can borrow this book from the library.

Il pense à ses parents. — He thinks about his parents.

J'ai un examen à passer. — I need to pass the exam.

Ce livre est à Paul. - This is Paul's book.

une glace à la vanille - vanilla ice cream

un bateau à moteur - motor boat

dans - in (inside), through and other meanings:

vivre dans une belle maison - to live in a beautiful house

dans le tiroir - in the box

Dans ce théâtre il y a cinq cents places. — There are five hundred seats in this theater.

Dans sa jeunesse elle était belle. — In her youth she was beautiful.

Il revient dans trois jours. - He will return in three days.

Ma soeur travaille dans un laboratoire. — My sister works in the laboratory.

en - in, by, on (method and manner of action) and other meanings:

Il voyage en voiture (en bateau). — He travels by car (by boat).

Je lis en français. — I read French.

Cette bague est en or. — This ring is made of gold.

Victor Hugo est né en 1802. - Victor Hugo was born in 1802.

J'ai déjeuné en dix minutes. — I had lunch in ten minutes.

aller en Biélorussie - go to Belarus

vivre en France - live in France

voyager en été (en hiver, en automne) travel in summer (winter, autumn)

But: au printemps - in the spring.

Je ferai ce travail en trois jours. — I will do this work in three days.

monter en wagon - climb into the carriage

par - used with an indirect object of the actor with a verb in the passive form, with a definition to a noun, with various circumstances:

Ce tableau a été peint par Picasso. — This painting was painted by Picasso.

faire les études par correspondance - study by correspondence

sortir par l’escalier - go up the stairs

faire un exercise par écrit - do the exercise in writing

pour - for, for, and other meanings:

J'ai une lettre pour vous. - I have a letter for you.

Merci pour votre invitation. - Thanks for the invitation.

Il est sorti pour acheter un journal. — He went out to buy a newspaper.

Ils partent pour deux jours. — They are leaving for two days.

Le musée est fermé pour travaux. — The museum is closed for work (for work).

être pour quelqu’un - to be for someone

partir pour Paris - to go to Paris

sur - on (surface) and other meanings:

Les livres sont sur la table. - Books on the table.

J'ai collé un timbre sur l'enveloppe. — I put a stamp on the envelope.

Comptez sur moi! - Count on me.

Je voudrais une chambre sur mer. — I would like a room with a sea view.

La fenêtre donne sur la rue. — The window faces the street.

avec - with, used with various circumstances.

Viens avec moi! - Come with me!

écrire avec un stylo - write with a pen

écouter avec attention - listen carefully

chez - at, to (used before nouns denoting persons):

Il va chez son ami. — He goes to his friend.

Elle habite chez sa tante. — She lives with her aunt.

avant and devant - before, before

avant is used before a time adverbial; devant - before the adverbial adverbial place:

Nous sommes venus à la gare avant le départ du train. — We came to the station before the departure (before departure) of the train.

Il y a une pelouse devant la maison. — There is a lawn in front of the house.

entre - between (used to denote space (time, place) that separates persons, objects):

entre les deux maisons - between two houses

entre 10 heures et midi - between 10 o'clock and noon.

parmi - between, among (used to highlight one object (person) from a group of objects (persons):

Y a-t-il un médecin parmi vous? — Is there a doctor among you?

Parmi les spectateurs se trouvait le Président. — The president was among the spectators.

contre - to (close); against:

Mettez la table contre le mur. — Place the table against the wall.

Etes-vous pour ou contre ce candidat? — Are you for or against this candidate?

Pretext de, introducing the object of a noun, can express relations corresponding to the Russian genitive case:

Le cahier de ma soeur- notebook my sister's
le directeur de la fabrique - factory director

Pretext à

Pretext à denotes a wide variety of relationships and is one of the most common prepositions in French.

1. Pretext à serves to express spatial relationships (location, direction):
2. Pretext à expresses temporary relations:
3. The preposition a expresses grammatical relations corresponding to other indirect cases in Russian:

Pretext jusque

Pretext jusque before expresses temporal and spatial relationships and is often used in combination with other prepositions, especially à .

Observe the use of prepositions jusque:

jusqu"ici
jusque chez eux
jusqu"à Paris
jusqu"à six
jusqu"à dix heures
jusqu"à Samedi

jusqu"à+ noun

jusqu"à la ville
jusqu"au metro"
jusqu"aux dernières pages.

Prepositions à - de

The preposition a indicates the direction or purpose of movement (in, on). The preposition de indicates the starting point of movement (from, from, with).

Compare:

Pretext à , indicating distance

The preposition a can introduce an adverbial adverb of place, denoting distance from some place. In Russian it corresponds to the preposition in or words at a distance:

Prepositions en And a before geographical names

Before feminine nouns denoting the names of countries (continents, regions, provinces, etc.), as well as masculine nouns starting with a vowel, the preposition is used en when indicating a place or direction. The article is not used after the preposition en:

Je vais en Suisse; en Iraq.
Il fait ses études en France.

Before masculine nouns starting with a consonant, the preposition is used à with article:

Je vais au Japon.
Il fait ses études au Canada.

Prepositions of place sur And dans

Pay attention to the use of prepositions before nouns la place, le boulevard, l"avenue, la rue, l"île:

sur la place, sur le boulevard, sur l"avenu
dans la rue, (more often) dans l"île

Using the preposition a when indicating the place of work

When indicating the place of study or work after nouns denoting profession, the preposition a is used in French (student, worker Where- unlike Russian, student, worker what: institute, factory).

M. Roulin est caissier à la banque de Paris.
Pierre est etudiant à l"Institut des étrangères.
Julien est ouvrier à l"usine Renault.

Prepositions avant - devant

Russian pretext before, expressing both spatial relationships (in front of the house) and temporal ones (before leaving), in French there are two different prepositions: devant And avant.

Devant expresses spatial relationships; avant expresses temporary relationships. Compare:

Pretext sans+ noun

Pretext sans forms a phrase with a noun without an article, which is a circumstance of the manner of action in a sentence.

These phrases are translated into Russian either noun with a pretext without, or adverb:

sans repos - no rest
sans bruit - silently.

The preposition “de” - from, from, about.
It serves for education:
- indirect object to the verb:
Le père et la mère doivent tous s’occuper des enfants. The father and mother should both care for the child.
- agential complement in the passive voice after verbs expressing feeling:
Il est très estimé de ses collègues. He is respected by his colleagues.
- adverb complements: adverb + de + noun:
Il a acheté beaucoup de fleurs. He bought a lot of flowers.
Combien de jours as-tu passés à Berlin ? How many days did you spend in Berlin?
- additions to an adjective or participle:
Elle très contente de son travaille. She is very pleased with her work.
La pièse est innondée du soleil. The room is flooded with sun.
The preposition “De” merges with the definite article “le”, “les”, forming the fused article “du”, “des”:
Il parle du travail des collègues. He talks about the work of his colleagues.
When it forms the object of a noun, the preposition indicates:
- what the item contains:
J'ai bu une tasse de café avant d'aller au travail. I drank a cup of coffee before leaving for work.
- belonging, possession:
La maison de son grand-père était très vieille. His grandfather's house was very old.
Il a pris le cahier de son fils. He took his son's notebook.
- quantity, measure of something:
Achète un kilo de poires et un paquet de lait. Buy a kilo of pears and a carton of milk.
Prends aussi une bouteille de vin. Buy a bottle of wine too.

But:
After the words la plupart, le reste, la moitié, une partie, bien, the preposition “de” and the definite article are used:
Half of something, most, remainder, part, a lot of something.
La plupart des enfants fréquentent l’école maternelle. Most children go to kindergarten.
- price, weight, cost:
Un billet de 100 euros - 100 euro bill, un melon de 2 kilos - 2 kg melon
- abstract characteristic:
Un peintre de talent - A talented artist, un homme de coeur - a kind-hearted person.
- material, substance:
Il a obtenu la médaille d’or. He received a gold medal.
Elle porte un pulle de laine et un pantalon de cuir. She wears a wool jumper and leather trousers.
Instead of the preposition “de” to express the direct meaning, you can use the preposition “en”:
Le pull en laine - Woolen jumper, la médaille en or - gold medal, un pantalon en cuir - leather pants;
To convey a figurative meaning, only “de” is used:
Un caractère d’or - Golden character, une femme de coeur - a kind-hearted woman.
- definition to the addition, expressing various relationships: name, type, genre:
Une salle d’attente - Waiting room, salle de conférence - conference room - appointment;
Un chien de chasse - Hunting dog - species;
La musiaue de chambre - Chamber music - genre.
“De” is used after the negation of “rien” and the expression “quelque chose”:
Rien de grave. Nothing serious. Rien d'intéressant. Nothing interesting.
Dites-lui quelque chose de bon pour la consoler. Say something nice to her to calm her down.
When he introduces a circumstance, the "de" preposition expresses:
- origin, starting point, removal in time or space:
Elle est de Marseille. She (come) from Marseille.
Il revient de Belgique dans une semaine. He returns from Belgium in a week.
If the name of a country is feminine or masculine, starting with a vowel, then in the assignment “of” only the preposition “de” is used:
De France - From France, d’Irac - from Iraq.
In other cases, the continuous article “du”, “des” is used:
Elle est venue de Maroc. She came from Morocco. La délégation arrive des Etats Unis. The delegation arrives from the USA.
- reason:
La femme pleurait de joie. The woman cried with joy. Il est devenu rouge de colère. He turned red with anger.
Usually they use “de” + a noun without an article when talking about abstract concepts:
Mourir de peur - Die from fear, de fatigue - from fatigue, d’ennui - from boredom...
- method, tool:
Montrer du doigt - Point with your finger, chercher des yeux - look with your eyes, jouer du violon - play the violin, de la guitare - play the guitar
- manner:
Elle parlait d'une voix tremblante. She spoke in a trembling voice. A ses 80 ans il marche d'un bon pas. At 80 years old, he still walks quite quickly.
- measure
Il a grandi de 20 centimètres en deux ans. He grew 20 centimeters in two years.
- quantity:
Il y a trop de dumée ici. There's too much smoke here.
Une foule de gens se pressait devant la porte. A crowd of people stood in front of the door.
The combination of the prepositions “à” and “de” means a restriction between two elements:
- in time:
Le magasin ouvre ses portes de 9 à 21 heures de lundi au samedi inclu. The store is open from 9 am to 9 pm from Monday to Saturday.
- in space:
Il y a une centaine de mètres de ma maison au métro. There are a hundred meters from my house to the metro.
- in quantity:
La voiture peut contenir de 2 à 5 gens. The car can accommodate from 2 to 5 people.
- in price:
Au marché les pommes coûtent de 7 à 12 euros. At the market, apples cost from 7 to 12 euros.

In negative sentences, after most verbs, only the preposition “de” is used to indicate complete negation if the noun is used with an indefinite article:
Ils n'ont pas d'enfants. They have no children.
J'ai acheté des fleures mais je n'ai pas acheté de vin. I bought flowers but didn't buy wine.
Ma fille ne mange de pain. My daughter doesn't eat bread.
After the verbs “aimer, adorer, préférer, détester” the definite article is used in the negative form, because We are talking about a concept, not a specific substance:
Je n'aime pas les oranges. I don't like oranges.
Il détestait les jeux cruels. He hates violent games.

Used after the verb “faire” and the impersonal phrase “il y a,” the preposition “de” most often merges with the definite articles “le” and “les,” forming the fused article “du” and “des.”
Il fait de la journalisme. He is engaged in journalism.
Il y a du brouillard et du vent aujourd'hui. Today is foggy and windy.

The “De” preposition is part of the partial article “du, de l’, des”, which is used before uncountable nouns to denote an indefinite amount of a substance:
Achèt du pain, de l'huile et du lait. Buy bread, butter and milk.