par
Il est arrivé par le train.
He arrived by train.
Indicates the agent in passive constructions (equivalent to 'by').
Ce livre a été écrit par un célèbre auteur.
This book was written by a famous author.
Used in passive voice to show who performed the action.
Indicates the means or method (equivalent to 'through', 'via').
J’ai appris cette nouvelle par la radio.
I heard this news through the radio.
Common in expressions like 'par écrit' (in writing), 'par téléphone' (by phone).
Indicates a point in time or space (equivalent to 'at', 'on', 'through').
Il est passé par ici.
He passed through here.
Used in expressions like 'par jour' (per day), 'par ici' (over here).
Indicates a rate or ratio (equivalent to 'per', 'each').
Le taux d’intérêt est de 5 % par an.
The interest rate is 5% per year.
Common in financial and mathematical contexts.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Passive Voice Construction
In French passive voice, 'par' is used to indicate the agent (who performed the action). Remember: 'par' + agent, while 'de' is used for feelings/emotions in passive constructions (e.g., 'Il est aimé de tous').
Gold Rule
When to Use 'par' vs. 'de' in Passive Voice
'par' is used for the agent performing the action (e.g., 'fait par moi'), while 'de' is used for the instrument or cause (e.g., 'cassé de fatigue').
Word Origin
From Old French 'par' (through, by), from Latin 'per' (through, by means of), which also gave Italian 'per' and Spanish 'por'. The Latin 'per' is related to Proto-Indo-European '*per-' (forward, through).
Usage Notes
The preposition 'par' is essential in French for indicating agency in passive constructions, means/methods, and rates. It is often paired with other prepositions like 'de' (par de) or 'en' (par en) in specific expressions. Avoid overusing 'par' where English would use 'for' or 'to'.