Learn how to express precise moments in time in French using key prepositions such as à, le, en, and au. This lesson explains when and how to use each preposition with examples, including special cases like habitual actions expressed with le before days of the week. Understand the main differences between French and English time expressions to improve your accuracy and fluency.
- We use "à" before a precise time.
- We use le before a date or a day of the week.
- We use en before a month, a season or a year.
- We use "au" before a century.
| Prépositions (Prepositions ) | Exemples (Examples) |
| À | Je vois ma famille à vingt heures. (I see my family at eight o'clock.) |
| Le | Tu fêtes ton anniversaire le 3 mai. (You celebrate your birthday on 3 May.) |
| En | Elle part en vacances en juillet. (She goes on holiday in July.) |
| Au | Il est né au 18ème siècle. (He was born in the 18th century.) |
Exceptions!
- When you put "le" before a day of the week, it indicates a habit. Example: Je vais au basket le samedi.
Exercise 1: Indiquer un moment précis
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
en, au, le, à, Au
1.
Je prends le métro ... huit heures les matins.
(I take the tube at eight o'clock in the morning.)
2.
... 19ème siècle, la première voiture est crée.
(In the 19th century, the first car was created.)
3.
Nous avons acheté notre première voiture ... 10 mars 2010.
(We bought our first car on 10 March 2010.)
4.
Ton bus part dans dix minutes, ... dix-huit heures.
(Your bus leaves in ten minutes, at six o'clock.)
5.
Vous partez toujours en vacances ... août.
(You always go on holiday in August.)
6.
Ma fille va à la danse ... jeudi.
(My daughter goes to dance on Thursdays.)
7.
La maison est construite ... 19ème siècle.
(The house was built in the 19th century.)
8.
J'ai eu mon permis ... 26 avril 2022.
(I got my driving licence on 26 April 2022.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Je prends le bus ___ huit heures du matin.
(I take the bus ___ eight o'clock in the morning.)2. Nous allons au garage ___ samedi.
(We go to the garage ___ Saturday.)3. Elle conduit la voiture ___ juillet.
(She drives the car ___ July.)4. Il a eu son permis ___ 21e siècle.
(He got his license ___ 21st century.)5. Nous achetons un ticket ___ dix heures.
(We buy a ticket ___ ten o'clock.)6. Le vélo est dans la rue ___ mercredi.
(The bike is in the street ___ Wednesday.)
