Technique 4

Translate Prepositions According to the Heads that they Precede in the Target
Language
Take the following examples which make use of the preposition ‘à’ and its subsequent
translation into English.
A.

FRENCH ENGLISH

1. Ama est à la maison. Ama is (at) home.

2. Ama va à la boutique. Ama is going to the shop.
3. Ama était à Kumasi. Ama was in Kumasi.
4. Maman va à pied. Mama is going on foot.

You would observe that the translation of ‘à’ depends on the noun which follows it. In other
words, its ‘meaning’ depends on the environment in which it occurs.

Examine another set of examples where different prepositions used in French are translated by
the same prepositions in English.

FRENCH
1. Kofi a trouvé un livre sur le plancher.
2. Kofi a trouvé un livre le mardi.
3. Kofi a trouvé un livre en vente.
4. Kofi a trouvé un livre de Grammaire.
ENGLISH
Kofi found a book on the floor.
Kofi found a book on Tuesday.
Kofi found a book on sale.
Kofi found a grammar book.

Exercise 5
Translate the following into English.
1. Son sac est plein de livres.
2. Papa vient d’arriver de Londres.
3. Les pieds sont couverts de boue.
4. Le blanc est le symbole de la paix.
5. Regarde, cette jeune fille se conduit toujours de cette manière.