Prepositions and connectors · Prépositions et connecteurs
Small words that link
- Prepositions show time and place: at, in, on, to.
- Connectors join ideas: and, but, so, because.
- They are small words, but they hold sentences together.
I study at six, on Monday, in April; the calendar is impressed.
Petits mots qui relient
- Prépositions indiquent le temps et le lieu : at, in, on, to.
- Connecteurs joignent des idées : and, but, so, because.
- Ce sont de petits mots, mais ils tiennent les phrases ensemble.
I study at six, on Monday, in April; the calendar is impressed.
Prepositions of time: at / in / on
- at + a clock time / point: at 7 o'clock, at night.
- on + a day / date: on Monday, on May 1st.
- in + a longer period: in the morning, in July, in 2020.
- Small → large: at → on → in.
Prépositions de temps : at / in / on
- at + une heure d'horloge / point précis : at 7 o'clock, at night.
- on + un jour / une date : on Monday, on May 1st.
- in + une période plus longue : in the morning, in July, in 2020.
- Petit → grand : at → on → in.
at, in or on? (time) · at, in ou on ? (temps)
at a clock time, on a day/date, in a month/year/longer period. · à une heure précise, à un jour/date, dans un mois/année/période plus longue.
Choose the correct preposition: The class starts ___ 9 o'clock. · Choisissez la bonne préposition : The class starts ___ 9 o'clock.
A clock time uses “at”: at 9 o'clock. · Une heure précise utilise « at » : at 9 o'clock.
Prepositions of place: at / in / on
- at + a point / place: at the bus stop, at home.
- in + an enclosed space: in the room, in China.
- on + a surface: on the table, on the wall.
Prépositions de lieu : at / in / on
- at + un point / lieu : at the bus stop, at home.
- in + un espace clos : in the room, in China.
- on + une surface : on the table, on the wall.
Complete: The book is ___ the table. (surface) · Complétez : Le livre est ___ la table. (surface)
A surface uses “on”: on the table. · Une surface utilise « on » : on the table.
Connectors: and, but, so, because
- and = adds; but = contrast; or = a choice.
- so = result: I was tired, so I went to bed.
- because = reason: She stayed home because it was raining.
- so gives the result; because gives the reason.
Connecteurs : and, but, so, because
- and = ajoute ; but = contraste ; or = choix.
- so = résultat : I was tired, so I went to bed.
- because = raison : She stayed home because it was raining.
- so donne le résultat ; because donne la raison.
Choose the connector: She stayed home ___ it was raining. · Choisissez le connecteur : She stayed home ___ it was raining.
“it was raining” is the reason → use “because”. (so introduces a result.) · « it was raining » est la raison → utilisez « because ». (so introduit un résultat.)
Translate into English: 我累了,所以去睡觉了。 · Traduisez en anglais : 我累了,所以去睡觉了。
Result → so: “I was tired, so I went to bed.” · Résultat → so : « I was tired, so I went to bed. »
Common mistakes
- ❌ Because it was raining, so we stayed home. → keep only one: because or so.
- ❌ in Monday → ✓ on Monday; ❌ at July → ✓ in July.
- ❌ listen music → ✓ listen to music — don't drop the preposition.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ Because it was raining, so we stayed home. → gardez seulement un : because ou so.
- ❌ in Monday → ✓ on Monday ; ❌ at July → ✓ in July.
- ❌ listen music → ✓ listen to music — ne supprimez pas la préposition.
at, on or in? Match the time. · at, on ou in ? Associez le temps.
at + clock time, on + day, in + month / year / season. · at + heure précise, on + jour, in + mois / année / saison.
Which sentence is correct? · Quelle phrase est correcte ?
One connector is enough: “…, so we stayed in.” or “Because it rained, we stayed in.” · Un seul connecteur suffit : « …, so we stayed in. » ou « Because it rained, we stayed in. »
- Time: at (a time) → on (a day) → in (a month / year).
- Place: at (a point), in (inside), on (a surface).
- so = result; because = reason.
- Temps : at (une heure) → on (un jour) → in (un mois / une année).
- Lieu : at (un point), in (à l'intérieur), on (une surface).
- so = résultat ; because = raison.
Write one sentence that gives a reason, using “because”. (For example: why you like something.) · Écrivez une phrase qui donne une raison, en utilisant « because ». (Par exemple : pourquoi vous aimez quelque chose.)
Example: “I like winter because I can play in the snow.” · Exemple : « I like winter because I can play in the snow. »