Should I write Près, Prêt or Prêts in French?
In French, “près,” “prêt,” and “prêts” are all words that are often confused by French language learners.
However, they have different meanings and uses, which will be explained in this lesson along with examples.
When to use “près”:
1. “Près” is used as an adverb to mean “near” or “close to”. For example:
- “Je suis près de la maison” (I am near the house). Here, “près” is used to indicate proximity.
- “Il y a un parc près de chez moi” (There is a park near my house). In this sentence, “près” is used to indicate proximity.
2. “Près” can also be used as a preposition to indicate proximity or nearness, for example:
- “Je suis assis près de la fenêtre” (I am sitting near the window). Here, “près” is used to indicate proximity.
When to use “prêt”:
1. “Prêt” is used as an adjective to mean “ready”. For example:
- “Je suis prêt pour le match” (I am ready for the game). Here, “prêt” is used to indicate readiness.
- “Les enfants sont prêts pour l’école” (The children are ready for school). In this sentence, “prêt” is used to indicate readiness.
2. “Prêt” can also be used as a noun to mean “loan”, for example:
- “Je cherche un prêt pour acheter une maison” (I am looking for a loan to buy a house). Here, “prêt” is used to mean a loan.
When to use “prêts”:
1. “Prêts” is the plural form of “prêt”, meaning “loans”. For example:
- “Il a beaucoup de prêts à rembourser” (He has a lot of loans to repay). Here, “prêts” is used to mean loans.
- “Les banques offrent des prêts pour les étudiants” (Banks offer loans for students). In this sentence, “prêts” is used to mean loans.
In conclusion, “près” is used to indicate proximity or nearness, “prêt” is used to indicate readiness or as a noun to mean “loan,” and “prêts” is the plural form of “prêt” meaning “loans”.
It is important to understand the difference between these words in order to effectively communicate in French.
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