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A1 adverb #2,500 most common 7 min read

Près

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips Près in 30 Seconds
Explanation Près in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'près' is primarily learned as a spatial marker to describe the location of objects or places. Students learn the basic phrase 'près de' to say things like 'near the school' or 'near my house'. The focus is on physical distance and simple navigation. You will use it to answer 'Where?' (Où ?). It is one of the first prepositions of place taught alongside 'dans', 'sur', and 'sous'. The main challenge at this level is remembering to use 'de' and its contractions (du, de la, des).
At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 'près' to include simple temporal expressions and more varied spatial contexts. You begin to use 'tout près' to emphasize that something is very close. You also start to see 'près de' used with infinitives to mean 'about to' in a very basic sense, though this is more common at higher levels. A2 learners should be comfortable using 'près' in directions and when describing their neighborhood or city layout in more detail.
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At the B1 level, 'près' becomes more versatile. You start using idiomatic expressions like 'à peu près' (approximately) to express uncertainty or give estimates. You also learn to use 'près de' with numbers to mean 'nearly' (e.g., près de 50 personnes). The distinction between 'près' and 'proche' becomes more important as you begin to describe relationships and more abstract concepts. You are expected to use 'près' correctly in both spoken and written narratives to set the scene.
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At the B2 level, you master the nuances of 'près'. This includes the adverbial phrase 'de près' (closely), used in contexts like 'examiner de près' (to examine closely). You also learn the structure 'à ... près' to indicate exceptions (e.g., 'à un détail près'). Your usage becomes more precise, and you can use 'près' to describe complex spatial and metaphorical relationships. You should also be able to distinguish 'près' from 'auprès de' in formal writing.
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At the C1 level, 'près' is used with stylistic flair. You understand its role in literary and formal registers, such as 'être près de ses sous' (to be stingy). You can use 'près' in complex rhetorical structures and understand subtle differences in meaning when it is used in philosophical or abstract discussions. You are also familiar with rare or regional uses and can use the word to add precision and color to your advanced French discourse.
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At the C2 level, you have a native-like command of 'près'. You can use it in all its idiomatic, metaphorical, and formal capacities. You understand the etymological roots and how they influence modern usage. You can play with the word in creative writing and understand its use in classical French literature. Whether it's a technical report or a poetic description, you use 'près' and its derivatives with perfect accuracy and contextual appropriateness.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

Près in 30 Seconds

  • Près means 'near' or 'close' and is primarily used for spatial proximity.
  • It usually requires the preposition 'de' when followed by a noun (près de la ville).
  • It can also mean 'nearly' or 'almost' when used with numbers or time.
  • Common expressions include 'à peu près' (roughly) and 'de près' (closely).

The French adverb près is a fundamental building block of the language, primarily used to denote spatial proximity. At its core, it signifies that something is located at a short distance from a reference point. While it is categorized as an adverb, its most frequent manifestation in everyday speech is within the prepositional phrase près de. Understanding 'près' requires more than just knowing it means 'near'; it involves grasping the physical, temporal, and metaphorical closeness it conveys in various contexts. In the physical sense, it describes the relationship between objects in space, such as a house being near a forest or a person standing close to a friend. Unlike the adjective 'proche', which can describe an inherent quality of being near, 'près' often emphasizes the state of being situated at a short distance.

Spatial Proximity
Refers to physical distance. Example: 'La gare est tout près' (The station is very near).
Temporal Proximity
Refers to closeness in time. Example: 'Il est près de midi' (It is nearly noon).
Figurative Closeness
Refers to being on the verge of an action or state. Example: 'Elle est près de pleurer' (She is close to crying).

Habitez-vous près d'ici ? (Do you live near here?)

The versatility of 'près' extends into complex grammatical structures. When followed by a noun or pronoun, it almost always requires the preposition 'de'. This 'de' contracts with definite articles (de + le = du, de + les = des), making it a dynamic part of sentence construction. For instance, 'près du parc' or 'près des écoles'. It is also used to express 'nearly' or 'almost' in numerical contexts, such as 'près de cent personnes' (nearly a hundred people). This numerical usage is common in journalism and formal reports where precision is balanced with approximation.

Il est resté près de la fenêtre toute la journée.

Tout près
Very close / Just nearby.
De près
Closely / At close range (e.g., to watch someone closely).

Regardez ce tableau de près pour voir les détails.

L'hiver est près de nous.

Il n'est pas à un euro près.

Using 'près' correctly involves understanding its interaction with other words. The most common structure is près de + [noun/pronoun]. This is the standard way to say 'near something'. For example, 'près de la boulangerie' (near the bakery). It is vital to remember that 'de' must change based on the gender and number of the following noun. If you are near the cinema (masculine), it becomes 'près du cinéma'. If you are near the mountains (plural), it becomes 'près des montagnes'.

Another significant usage is the adverbial phrase de près, which means 'closely' or 'intimately'. You might 'suivre une affaire de près' (follow a case closely) or 'ressembler de près à quelqu'un' (closely resemble someone). This shifts the meaning from simple physical distance to the intensity or detail of an observation or relationship. It is a favorite in professional and academic French to indicate thoroughness.

Furthermore, 'près' appears in the expression à peu près, which means 'approximately' or 'roughly'. This is used for numbers, time, and general descriptions. 'Il est à peu près trois heures' (It is approximately three o'clock). It is an essential phrase for maintaining flow in conversation when you aren't certain of exact figures. Another idiomatic use is à ... près, used to indicate an exception or a small margin, such as 'à un détail près' (except for one detail) or 'à quelques minutes près' (give or take a few minutes).

You will encounter 'près' in almost every facet of French life. In urban environments, it is ubiquitous in directions. If you ask for the nearest metro station, someone might reply, 'C'est juste ici, tout près.' In the context of real estate, listings frequently highlight proximity to amenities: 'Appartement situé près des commerces' (Apartment located near shops). This usage emphasizes convenience and accessibility, key selling points in French culture.

In the workplace, 'près' is used to discuss deadlines and project statuses. A manager might say, 'Nous sommes près du but' (We are close to the goal), providing motivation and a sense of progress. It also appears in news broadcasts when discussing geographical events or international relations, such as 'un séisme près de la côte' (an earthquake near the coast). The word provides the necessary spatial context for reporting events accurately.

Socially, 'près' describes relationships. While 'proche' is more common for emotional closeness, 'près' can be used in phrases like 'rester près de sa famille' (staying close to one's family), implying both physical presence and emotional support. You'll also hear it in weather reports: 'Le temps est près de se gâter' (The weather is about to turn bad), where it serves as a temporal marker for an imminent change.

The most frequent error for learners is the confusion between près and prêt. Although they are homophones (pronounced the same: /pʁɛ/), their meanings are unrelated. 'Près' means 'near', while 'prêt' means 'ready'. Writing 'Je suis près' when you mean 'I am ready' is a common spelling mistake. Remember: 'Près' has an 's' for 'space' (nearness), and 'Prêt' has a 't' for 'time' (ready to go).

Another mistake is omitting the de when 'près' is followed by a noun. English speakers often translate 'near the park' directly as 'près le parc', which is incorrect. It must be 'près du parc'. The 'de' is mandatory unless 'près' is used as a standalone adverb at the end of a phrase. Conversely, some learners mistakenly add 'de' when using 'proche', which can be used with or without 'de' depending on the context, leading to confusion between the two words.

Finally, learners often struggle with the placement of 'près' in complex sentences. It should generally follow the verb it modifies or be placed at the beginning of a prepositional phrase. Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'une près maison') is incorrect; 'proche' should be used instead ('une maison proche'). 'Près' is an adverb and does not agree in gender or number with the noun it describes.

The most common synonym for 'près' is proche. While often interchangeable, 'proche' is an adjective and can be used to describe emotional bonds (un ami proche) or inherent qualities. 'Près' is strictly an adverb and focuses on the state of being near. Another similar term is à côté de, which specifically means 'next to' or 'beside'. While 'près de' means 'near', 'à côté de' implies a more immediate, side-by-side positioning.

For temporal or numerical proximity, environ and presque are useful alternatives. 'Environ' means 'about' or 'around' (environ dix euros), while 'presque' means 'almost' (presque fini). 'Près de' can also mean 'nearly' in these contexts, but 'presque' is more common for actions and 'environ' for quantities. In literary contexts, you might encounter auprès de, which means 'near' or 'close to' but often carries a sense of 'in the company of' or 'compared to'.

In terms of antonyms, the primary opposite is loin (far). Just as 'près' uses 'de', 'loin' also requires 'de' when followed by a noun (loin de la ville). Understanding the 'près/loin' binary is essential for basic navigation and spatial description in French. Other opposites include distant or éloigné, which are adjectives used to describe things that are far away in a more formal or permanent sense.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Prepositions of place

Contractions with 'de'

Adverb placement

Approximation expressions

Stressed pronouns after prepositions

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Examples by Level

1

J'habite près de l'école.

I live near the school.

Uses 'près de' + definite article.

2

Le chat est près de la table.

The cat is near the table.

Spatial preposition.

3

La gare est tout près.

The station is very near.

Adverbial use of 'tout près'.

4

C'est près d'ici ?

Is it near here?

Interrogative sentence.

5

Le parc est près du cinéma.

The park is near the cinema.

Contraction 'de + le = du'.

6

Ma mère travaille près de Paris.

My mother works near Paris.

Geographical proximity.

7

Le restaurant est près des magasins.

The restaurant is near the shops.

Contraction 'de + les = des'.

8

Il est assis près de moi.

He is sitting near me.

Près de + stressed pronoun.

1

Nous sommes près de la rivière.

We are near the river.

Location description.

2

Il est près de huit heures.

It is nearly eight o'clock.

Temporal proximity.

3

Le magasin est situé tout près de la mairie.

The shop is located right near the town hall.

Emphasis with 'tout'.

4

Ne restez pas trop près du feu.

Don't stay too close to the fire.

Safety warning.

5

Elle habite près de chez ses parents.

She lives near her parents' place.

Près de + chez.

6

Le parking est près de l'entrée.

The parking lot is near the entrance.

Directional info.

7

C'est à peu près ça.

That's about it / roughly that.

Introduction to 'à peu près'.

8

Il marche près de son chien.

He walks near his dog.

Physical proximity in motion.

1

Il y avait près de cent invités.

There were nearly a hundred guests.

Numerical approximation.

2

Le projet est près d'être terminé.

The project is close to being finished.

Près de + infinitive.

3

C'est à peu près la même chose.

It's roughly the same thing.

Comparing similarity.

4

Il habite près de la frontière.

He lives near the border.

Geopolitical context.

5

Elle était près de s'évanouir.

She was close to fainting.

Imminent state.

6

Nous avons attendu près d'une heure.

We waited nearly an hour.

Time duration.

7

Il est resté près d'elle pendant la maladie.

He stayed by her side during the illness.

Supportive presence.

8

Le village est près d'un grand lac.

The village is near a large lake.

Descriptive setting.

1

Il faut examiner ce document de près.

This document must be examined closely.

Adverbial phrase 'de près'.

2

À un détail près, le plan est parfait.

Except for one detail, the plan is perfect.

Expression 'à ... près'.

3

Il n'est pas à un euro près.

He doesn't mind spending an extra euro / He's not stingy.

Idiomatic expression of indifference to small amounts.

4

Elle suit l'actualité de très près.

She follows the news very closely.

Intensive observation.

5

Le succès était près de lui tendre les bras.

Success was close to reaching out to him.

Personification and proximity.

6

Ils sont à peu près du même âge.

They are roughly the same age.

Approximation of age.

7

Ce tissu ressemble de près à de la soie.

This fabric closely resembles silk.

Resemblance.

8

Nous étions près de renoncer.

We were close to giving up.

Nearness to an action.

1

Il est très près de ses sous.

He is very stingy / tight-fisted.

Idiomatic expression for greed/frugality.

2

À quelques exceptions près, tout le monde est venu.

With a few exceptions, everyone came.

Complex 'à ... près' structure.

3

Il a vu la mort de près.

He had a near-death experience / saw death closely.

Metaphorical 'de près'.

4

Le résultat est à peu près satisfaisant.

The result is more or less satisfactory.

Nuanced approximation.

5

C'est un homme très près de la nature.

He is a man very close to nature.

Philosophical closeness.

6

À l'heure près, il est arrivé au bon moment.

Give or take an hour, he arrived at the right time.

Margin of error.

7

Il ne faut pas regarder les choses de trop près.

One shouldn't look at things too closely (metaphorically).

Advice on perspective.

8

Elle est restée près du pouvoir pendant des années.

She stayed close to power for years.

Political proximity.

1

Sa réflexion frise, à peu de chose près, le génie.

His reflection borders, give or take very little, on genius.

High-level literary approximation.

2

Il s'en est fallu de peu, à un cheveu près.

It was a close call, by a hair's breadth.

Idiom for extreme proximity.

3

L'œuvre, à quelques ratures près, était achevée.

The work, save for a few erasures, was finished.

Refined exception marking.

4

Il vit au plus près de ses convictions.

He lives as closely as possible to his convictions.

Superlative proximity 'au plus près'.

5

Cette analyse serre la réalité de près.

This analysis closely hugs reality / is very accurate.

Formal verb 'serrer' + 'de près'.

6

À cela près que nous n'avons pas le budget.

Except for the fact that we don't have the budget.

Conjunctional use 'à cela près que'.

7

Il a été témoin de près des bouleversements du siècle.

He witnessed the upheavals of the century at close hand.

Historical witness.

8

Le poète se tient au plus près du silence.

The poet stands as close as possible to silence.

Abstract/Poetic usage.

Common Collocations

Tout près
Près de chez moi
Près du but
Près de la fin
De très près
Près du bord
Près de l'eau
Près du centre
Près du cœur
Près de là

Common Phrases

Près de chez vous
C'est tout près
Passer près de
Se tenir près de
Rester près de
Vivre près de
Travailler près de
S'approcher près de
Regarder de près
Être près de

Often Confused With

Près vs prêt (ready)

Près vs proche (near - adjective)

Près vs presque (almost)

Idioms & Expressions

"À peu près"
"De près"
"À ... près"
"Être près de ses sous"
"Voir la mort de près"
"À un cheveu près"
"À cela près"
"Serrer de près"
"N'être pas à ça près"
"Au plus près"

Easily Confused

Près vs prêt

Means 'ready'. 'Je suis prêt' vs 'Je suis près'.

Près vs proche

An adjective. 'Un ami proche' vs 'Près de l'ami'.

Près vs presque

Means 'almost'. Used for actions, 'près de' for quantities.

Près vs auprès

More formal, often means 'in the company of'.

Près vs après

Means 'after'. Often confused by beginners due to spelling.

Sentence Patterns

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How to Use It

spatial

Primary use for physical distance.

temporal

Used to mean 'close to' a specific time.

numerical

Used to mean 'nearly' with quantities.

Common Mistakes
  • Confusing 'près' (near) with 'prêt' (ready).
  • Forgetting the 'de' after 'près' when followed by a noun.
  • Not contracting 'de + le' into 'du' after 'près'.
  • Using 'près' as an adjective (e.g., 'ma près maison' instead of 'ma maison proche').
  • Pronouncing the final 's'.

Tips

Contraction Alert

Remember that 'près de + le' becomes 'près du'. This is a common mistake for beginners.

Stingy Idiom

If someone is 'près de ses sous', they are very careful with money or stingy.

Silent S

The 's' is silent, making it sound exactly like 'prêt' and 'très'.

Numerical Use

Use 'près de' before numbers to sound more like a native speaker when approximating.

Spelling Tip

Près (near) has a grave accent (è). Don't forget it!

Tout Près

Add 'tout' before 'près' to emphasize how close something really is.

Navigation

French people use 'près' constantly when giving walking directions.

Close Call

Use 'à un cheveu près' to describe something that almost happened.

Avoid 'Près le'

Never say 'près le parc'. It must be 'près du parc'.

Advanced Exception

Use 'à ... près' to show that only one small thing is different.

Memorize It

Word Origin

From Vulgar Latin *pressum, from Latin pressus, past participle of premere (to press).

Cultural Context

Physical distance (proxemics) in France is generally closer than in North America but further than in Middle Eastern cultures.

Proximity to the 'métro' is the most cited factor in Parisian real estate.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Est-ce qu'il y a un bon restaurant près d'ici ?"

"Tu habites près de ton travail ?"

"C'est près de la gare ou c'est loin ?"

"On est près d'arriver ?"

"Est-ce que tu suis l'actualité de près ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez votre endroit préféré près de chez vous.

Qu'est-ce qui est près de votre cœur ?

Parlez d'un moment où vous étiez près de réussir quelque chose.

Est-ce que vous préférez vivre près de la mer ou près de la montagne ?

Décrivez une personne dont vous êtes très près.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'près' is an adverb. It does not change to match the gender or number of the noun it describes. For an adjective with a similar meaning, use 'proche'.

Use 'près' alone as an adverb (e.g., 'C'est tout près'). Use 'près de' when followed by a noun or pronoun (e.g., 'Près de la maison').

You say 'près de moi'. Use the stressed pronoun after 'de'.

No, it can also mean 'nearly' with numbers or 'about to' with verbs.

'Près' means near (general area), while 'à côté' means right next to or beside.

Yes, but 'tout près' is more common and idiomatic in French.

No, the 's' is silent. It is pronounced /pʁɛ/.

You say 'près de cent'.

It means 'approximately' or 'roughly'.

Yes, 'près de midi' means 'nearly noon'.

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