| |

Devant

ByFast French

The French word “devant” can be used as a preposition, as an adverb, or as a noun.

Preposition

As a preposition, “devant” means “in front of,” “ahead of” or “before.”

  • Vous vous êtes classés devant eux (You have ranked ahead of them)
  • Il y a un gros arbre devant la maison (There is a big tree in front of the house)
  • Le contrat a été signé devant témoins (The contract was signed before witnesses)

Adverb

As an adverb, “devant” means “in front,” “at the front,” or “ahead.”

  • Ils sont assis devant (They are sitting in front)
  • Il y avait une jolie maison, et devant, un grand jardin (There was a pretty house and, at the front, a large garden)
  • Mon grand frère marchait devant (My big brother was walking ahead)

Noun

As a masculine noun, “le devant” means “the front.”

  • Le devant de la voiture est endommagé (The front of the car is damaged)
  • Le devant de l’immeuble (The front of the building)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • homeless

    ByFast French

    In French, several terms are used to refer to people who are homeless. Some are neutral and administrative, while others are older or more colloquial, and may carry connotations of pity or stigma. The two most commonly encountered terms are SDF and clochard. Other related terms include sans-abri, sans domicile, and marginal. SDF SDF is…

  • verb: fondre

    ByFast French

    The French verb “fondre” means “to melt,” along with a host of other meanings. It’s a useful verb to know if you’re heading into summer temperatures. “Fondre” can mean “to melt,” “to melt down,” “to thaw,” “to thaw out,” “to cast,” “to dissolve,” “to melt away,” “to waste away,” “to soften,” or when used reflexively,…

  • |

    plus vs davantage

    ByFast French

    Plus The word “plus” is very common in French. It usually means “more” and can be used in comparisons, quantities, or to indicate an increase. 1. Comparisons 2. Quantities 3. Indicating an increase Note: When “plus” is used in a negative sentence, the “s” is silent: Davantage The word “davantage” also means “more,” but it…

  • détendre

    ByFast French

    The French Verb “Détendre”: Unraveling Layers of Relaxation The French verb “détendre” means “to relax,” “to loosen,” “to untighten,” “to release” or even “to entertain.” It also has a reflexive version, “se détendre,” which also means “to relax” or “to slacken.” Etymology:“Détendre” comes from the Latin words, “de” (down from) and “tendere” (to stretch). Usage:…

  • il y a

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “il y a” means “there is” or “there are.” It covers both singular and plural. “il y a” versus “c’est” “Il y a” is often used for situations where you can’t see the thing being talked about. Eg “there is a bike in the garden” (when you’re not in the garden), or…

One Comment

  1. Pingback: Everything you need to know about the French word "derrière"

Comments are closed.