Paul a une procuration.

Paul has authority to vote for someone else.

Breakdown of Paul a une procuration.

• Paul: Paul
• avoir: to have
• la procuration: the proxy (voting)

Questions & Answers about Paul a une procuration.

Why is a used here? Isn’t a usually to or at in French?

In Paul a une procuration, a is the third-person singular form of the verb avoir (to have), not the preposition à.

• a = has
• à = to, at, in

They sound the same, but they are spelled differently and do different jobs.

So:

• Paul a une procuration = Paul has a power of attorney / proxy

Compare:

• Paul a un stylo = Paul has a pen
• Paul va à Paris = Paul goes to Paris

The accent matters in writing:

• a = from avoir
• à = preposition

Why is there une before procuration?