Time prepositions: "En, À, Avant, Après"

Choose the right time preposition: the 10‑second overview

• en + month / season = “in” (a period)
• à + exact clock time = “at” (a precise point)
• avant + event / activity = “before” (order)
• après + event / activity = “after” (order)

“En” = a time period (months and seasons)

Use en when you answer: In which month? In which season?

• en juillet = in July
• en septembre = in September
• en été = in summer
• en hiver = in winter

Common trap: don’t use à with months.

• à juillet ❌ → en juillet ✅

“À” = a precise time on the clock

Use à when you answer: At what time exactly?

• à midi = at noon
• à 9 h = at 9 o’clock
• à 14 h = at 2 p.m.

Quick test: if you can put it on a calendar as a single point, use à.

“Avant / Après” = order in time (before / after an activity)

Use avant and après to place one action relative to another.

Tip: very often the word after avant / après is an activity: le travail, le film, le déjeuner, la réunion.

Mini decision chart (self-check)

1. Is it a month or season? → use en.
2. Is it an exact time (9 h, midi, 14 h)? → use à.
3. Do you mean before/after another action? → use avant / après.

If you hesitate, ask yourself: “period, point, or order?”

Important spelling warning: “à” (preposition) vs “a” (has)

• à = preposition (“at”) → Rendez-vous à midi.
• a = verb avoir, 3rd person singular (“has”) → Il a une réunion.

Fast check: if you can replace it with avait (had), it’s the verb a. If not, it’s à.

• Il a une réunion. → Il avait une réunion. ✅ (so it’s a)
• Rendez-vous à midi. → Rendez-vous avait midi. ❌ (so it’s à)

What you should be able to do now

• Talk about plans in a month/season with en.
• Set a meeting at a specific time with à.
• Describe your routine before / after an activity with avant / après.