When learning French, it’s important to be able to describe where people and objects are located. These useful prepositions help you talk about position and are especially helpful in speaking and writing exams.

Here are some of the most common ones:

à droite de = to the right of

à gauche de = to the left of

à côté de = next to

en face de = opposite

devant = in front of

derrière = behind

entre = between

près de = near

loin de = far from

sur = on

sous = under

dans = in / inside

For example:

• Le cinéma est à côté de la gare.
  (The cinema is next to the station.)
• Le chat est sous la table.
  (The cat is under the table.)
• Ma maison est en face du parc.
  (My house is opposite the park.)

A useful tip is to learn these prepositions as chunks rather than translating each word individually. In exams, they can help you give more detailed descriptions of photos, towns, bedrooms, classrooms and holiday destinations.

Why not challenge yourself to describe the room you’re sitting in right now using at least three of these prepositions? The more you use them, the more natural they will become.