a

The Preposition a

Level 1

A means to or at.

How It Works

A often means "to" or "at". With anar it gives the destination: Vau a Tolosa. With èsser or demorar it gives the place: Soi a l'ostal. Demòri a Rodés.

Use a directly before a city: a Albi, a Nimes. Before a common noun, keep the article: a l'escòla, a la plaça. With lo and los, a joins the article as al and als: al mercat.

PhraseMeaning
a Tolosain or to Toulouse
a l'escòlaat or to school
a la plaçaat or to the square
al mercatat or to the market

Use en for countries, not a: en França. Do not pick a preposition from the English word alone: dins says inside and sus says on.

Examples (4)

  1. Maria es a Nimes.

    Maria is in Nîmes.

    A names the city where she is.

  2. Vau a l'escòla.

    I am going to school.

    A stays before the elided article.

  3. Sèm a la plaça.

    We are at the square.

    A stays separate before la.

  4. Anam al mercat.

    We are going to the market.

    A + lo gives al.

Common Mistakes

  • Using en with a city.

    Demòri en Tolosa.
    Demòri a Tolosa.

    Use a before a city. En is for countries and languages.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

aLevel 1The Preposition a

Learn This First

The preposition a follows verbs like anar, so the present of anar comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

a