French Prepositions with Verbs: 'Penser à' vs. 'Penser de' and More!
Level: DELF A1
Introduction
Mastering French prepositions with verbs can be tricky because different prepositions completely change the meaning of a verb. One common source of confusion is the difference between penser à and penser de—but that’s just the beginning! Let’s break it down and look at other verb-preposition pairs, along with mnemonics to help you remember them.
1. Penser à
Penser à (to think about someone/something)
Use penser à when referring to actively thinking about something or someone.
✅ Examples:
- Je pense à toi. (I’m thinking about you.)
- Pense à prendre ton parapluie ! (Remember to take your umbrella!)
🧠 Mnemonic: Imagine someone writing a letter “À” (to) someone they’re thinking about. Penser à = thinking about.
2. Penser de
Penser de (to have an opinion about something)
Use penser de when asking for or giving an opinion.
✅ Examples:
- Qu’est-ce que tu penses de ce film ? (What do you think of this movie?)
- Je pense du bien de lui. (I think well of him.)
🧠 Mnemonic: Think of the letter “D” in de standing for “D”iscussion or Debate. Penser de = giving an opinion.
3. Other Common Verb + Preposition Pairs
a) S’occuper de vs. S’occuper à
- S’occuper de → To take care of something.
- Je m’occupe de mes enfants. (I take care of my children.)
- S’occuper à → To keep oneself busy with something.
- Elle s’occupe à peindre toute la journée. (She keeps herself busy painting all day.)
🧠 Mnemonic:
- de = duty (taking care of responsibilities)
- à = activity (keeping busy with something)
b) Manquer de vs. Manquer à
- Manquer de → To lack something.
- Il manque de patience. (He lacks patience.)
- Manquer à → To be missed by someone.
- Tu me manques. (I miss you.)
🧠 Mnemonic:
- de = deficiency (missing something like patience)
- à = àffect (someone feeling your absence)
c) Jouer de vs. Jouer à
- Jouer de → To play a musical instrument.
- Elle joue du piano. (She plays the piano.)
- Jouer à → To play a game or sport.
- Il joue au foot. (He plays soccer.)
🧠 Mnemonic:
- de = do-re-mi (music)
- à = àthletics (sports & games)
Final Tip:
When in doubt, try associating the prepositions with their core meanings:
- “À” often implies direction or involvement.
- “De” often implies origin, possession, or opinion.
