I. Location or destination (learn more)
J'habite à Paris - I live in Paris
Je vais à Rome - I'm going to Rome
II. Distance in time or space
J'habite à 10 mètres de lui - I live 10 meters from him
Il est à 5 minutes de moi - He is 5 minutes from me
III. Point in time
Nous arrivons à 5h00 - We arrive at 5:00
Il est mort à 92 ans - He died at the age of 92
IV. Manner, style, or characteristic
Il habite à la française - He lives in the French style
un enfant aux yeux bleus - blue-eyed child / child with blue eyes
fait à la main - made by hand
aller à pied - to go on / by foot
V. Possession (learn more)
un ami à moi - a friend of mine
Ce livre est à Jean - This is Jean's book
VI. Measurement
acheter au kilo - to buy by the kilogram
payer à la semaine - to pay by the week
VII. Purpose or use
une tasse à thé - teacup / cup for tea
un sac à dos - backpack / pack for the back
VIII. In the passive infinitive
À louer - for rent
Je n'ai rien à lire - I have nothing to read
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Note: When followed by the definite articles le and les, à contracts with them into a single word: | |||||
| For example | |||||
| à + le | = | au | au magasin | ||
| à + les | = | aux | aux maisons | ||
| But à does not contract with la or l' | |||||
| à + la | = | à la | à la banque | ||
| à + l' | = | à l' | à l'hôpital | ||
| In addition, à does not contract with le and les when they are direct objects. | |||||
