Prepositions of Time For Intermediate learners
What Are Prepositions of Time in French?
Prepositions of time (prépositions du temps) indicate when something happens, how long it lasts, or from when to when an action takes place.
They are usually followed by:
a noun → à midi
a date → en 2020
an infinitive → avant de partir
À — Exact Time or Specific Moment
It is used for clock times, precise moments, and holidays.
À 8 heures, je pars.
I leave at 8.
Nous mangeons à midi.
We eat at noon.
À Noël, tout est fermé.
At Christmas, everything is closed.
En — Months, Years, Seasons, Duration
It is used for longer, non-countable time periods.
Months
En janvier, il neige.
In January, it snows.
Years
Je suis né en 2000.
I was born in 2000.
Seasons
En été, il fait chaud.
In summer, it's hot.
Duration (time needed)
Je fais ça en deux heures.
I do this in two hours.
Meaning: time required to finish.
Au / Aux
It is used with masculine or plural time nouns.
Au (masculine)
Au printemps, les fleurs poussent.
In spring, flowers grow.
Aux (plural)
Aux vacances, je voyage.
During the holidays, I travel.
Dans — Future Time (in…)
It is used for something that will happen after a delay.
Je pars dans une heure.
I leave in an hour.
Il revient dans deux jours.
He comes back in two days.
Depuis — Since / For (still happening)
It is used when an action started in the past and continues to the present.
Je travaille ici depuis 2010.
I have worked here since 2010.
Elle dort depuis deux heures.
She has been sleeping for two hours.
Pendant — For (completed duration)
It is used for a completed time span.
J'ai étudié pendant trois heures.
I studied for three hours.
Nous avons vécu là pendant dix ans.
We lived there for ten years.
Pour — Intended Duration (often future)
It is used for a planned duration.
Je pars pour deux jours.
I leave for two days.
Il s'absente pour une semaine.
He will be away for a week.
Il y a — Ago
It is used for time in the past. The structure is past tense + il y a + time.
Je l'ai vu il y a deux jours.
I saw him two days ago.
Il est parti il y a longtemps.
He left a long time ago.
Avant — Before
Before a noun
Avant le dîner, je marche.
Before dinner, I walk.
Avant de + infinitive (same subject)
Je mange avant de dormir.
I eat before sleeping.
If subjects differ → avant que + subjunctive
Je pars avant qu'il arrive.
I leave before he arrives.
Après — After
After a noun
Après le travail, je rentre.
After work, I go home.
Après + infinitive (past)
Après avoir mangé, il part.
After eating, he leaves.
Jusqu'à — Until
It indicated an endpoint.
Je travaille jusqu'à 18h.
I work until 6 pm.
Nous restons jusqu'à demain.
We stay until tomorrow.
Vers — Around / Approximately
It is used for approximate time.
Je viens vers 20h.
I come around 8 pm.
Elle arrive vers midi.
She arrives around noon.
Dès — From (starting immediately)
It indicates a starting point.
Dès demain, je commence.
Starting tomorrow, I begin.
Dès l'enfance, il aimait lire.
From childhood, he loved reading.
De… à… — From… to…
It is used for time ranges.
De 8h à 10h, je travaille.
From 8 to 10, I work.
Nous sommes ouverts de lundi à vendredi.
We are open from Monday to Friday.
Comments
(0)- What Are Prepositions of Time in French?
- À — Exact Time or Specific Moment
- En — Months, Years, Seasons, Duration
- Dans — Future Time (in…)
- Depuis — Since / For (still happening)
- Pendant — For (completed duration)
- Pour — Intended Duration (often future)
- Il y a — Ago
- Avant — Before
- Après — After
- Jusqu'à — Until
- Vers — Around / Approximately
- Dès — From (starting immediately)
- De… à… — From… to…
Recommended
