How do you use Avant in French?
James Craig
Updated on February 17, 2026
Avant expresses something to do with time. It can be used in front of a temporal expression, noun, pronoun, verb, or clause. Devant expresses position or location (figurative or literal) and means before or in front of. It can be used only in front of a noun or pronoun.
Consequently, how do you use avant de?
Examples and resources
- J'étais malheureux avant de te rencontrer. I was unhappy before meeting you.
- Ferme la porte à clé avant de partir ! Lock the door before leaving!
- Elle veut vérifier avant de prendre une décision. She wants to check before making a decision.
- Avant de commencer, il aimerait porter un toast.
Additionally, how do you use apres in French? Après can also be used with several verb tenses.
- past infinitive. après avoir eu des enfants. after having had kids.
- que + passé composé après que j'ai eu des enfants. after I had kids.
- que + present tense. To talk about something that happens habitually. Je mange après que tu pars.
- que + future / future perfect.
Correspondingly, do you use subjunctive with avant que?
Yes, avant que requires the subjunctive: Par exemple… Je vais rentrer avant qu'il ne fasse nuit.
What are prepositions in French?
Prepositions are words that link two related parts of a sentence. In French, they are usually placed in front of nouns or pronouns to indicate a relationship between that noun/pronoun and a verb, adjective, or noun that precedes it, as in: I'm talking to Jean. > Je parle à Jean.
Related Question Answers
What triggers the subjunctive in French?
In French the subjunctive is used after certain verbs and conjunctions when two parts of a sentence have different subjects. I'm afraid he won't come back. (The subject of the first part of the sentence is 'I'; the subject of the second part of the sentence is 'he'.)How do you know when to use the subjunctive or indicative in French?
The subjunctive is used after verbs and expressions of doubt, denial, and disbelief. The indicative tenses, which state facts (present, passé composé, imperfect, and future) are used after verbs and expressions of certainty and probability.Does apres que take subjunctive?
No, après que does not take the subjunctive: Par exemple… Je ferai la vaisselle après que tu seras au lit.What is Subjonctif in French?
The French subjunctive is a special verb form, called a mood, that is used in dependent clauses to indicate some sort of subjectivity, uncertainty, or unreality in the mind of the speaker. In French, feelings like doubt and desire require the subjunctive, as do expressions of necessity, possibility, and judgment.How do you stop the subjunctive in French?
Here are five tips on how to avoid using the subjunctive:- Rather than using impersonal verbs with que + the subjunctive, replace it with the infinitive.
- Replace que with si.
- You can also express doubt or possibility through the use of an adverb, rather than the subjunctive structure.
What is the meaning of the French word apres?
(ä′prā, ăp′rā) prep. After. Often used in combination: an après-dinner entertainment; a concert après dinner. [French, from Old French, from Late Latin ad pressum : ad, to; see ad- + pressum, nearby (from neuter of Latin pressus, past participle of premere, to press closely; see press1).]What are the French question words?
Useful French question words- quand (when)
- à quelle heure (at what time)
- qui (who/whom)
- qui est-ce que (who, object of the verb)
- qui est-ce qui (who, subject of the verb)
- avec qui (with whom)
- pour qui (for whom)
- comment (how)