B1 French GrammarTwo-Way Prepositions
Master French prepositions that express both location and direction. Learn when to use 'à', 'en', 'dans', and 'sur' for static location versus motion, and understand the nuances that distinguish French spatial expressions.
1À vs En vs Dans (Location)
'À' indicates location at a place (cities, specific locations). 'En' is used with countries (feminine), regions, and some expressions. 'Dans' means inside a specific space. The same prepositions can indicate both where something is and where it's going.
Location Prepositions
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à | cities, specific places | à Paris, à l'école |
| en | feminine countries, regions | en France, en Bretagne |
| au/aux | masculine countries | au Canada, aux États-Unis |
| dans | inside specific space | dans la maison |
Examples
J'habite à Lyon.
I live in Lyon.
à for cities
Elle travaille en Allemagne.
She works in Germany.
en for feminine countries
Le chat est dans la boîte.
The cat is in the box.
dans for inside
Il vit au Japon.
He lives in Japan.
au for masculine countries
2Location vs Direction with Same Prepositions
In French, the same preposition often works for both location and direction. The verb determines the meaning: 'être' (to be) = location, 'aller' (to go) = direction. Unlike German, French doesn't change the preposition based on movement.
Location vs Direction
| Preposition | Location (être) | Direction (aller) |
|---|---|---|
| à | Je suis à Paris | Je vais à Paris |
| en | Je suis en France | Je vais en France |
| au | Je suis au bureau | Je vais au bureau |
| chez | Je suis chez Marie | Je vais chez Marie |
Examples
Je suis au restaurant.
I am at the restaurant.
location with être
Je vais au restaurant.
I am going to the restaurant.
direction with aller
Elle est chez le médecin.
She is at the doctor's.
chez for people's places
Elle va chez le médecin.
She is going to the doctor's.
same preposition for direction
3Sur, Sous, Devant, Derrière
Positional prepositions describe where things are in relation to each other. 'Sur' (on), 'sous' (under), 'devant' (in front of), 'derrière' (behind). These work for both location and direction, with the verb indicating static or dynamic meaning.
Positional Prepositions
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sur | on | sur la table |
| sous | under | sous le lit |
| devant | in front of | devant la maison |
| derrière | behind | derrière l'arbre |
Examples
Le livre est sur la table.
The book is on the table.
location on surface
Pose le livre sur la table.
Put the book on the table.
direction onto surface
Le chat dort sous le lit.
The cat is sleeping under the bed.
location under
Il se cache derrière l'arbre.
He hides behind the tree.
direction/location behind
4Coming From: De, Du, Des
'De' indicates origin or movement away from. It contracts with articles: de + le = du, de + les = des. Use 'de' with cities, 'd'' with feminine countries starting with vowels, 'du' with masculine countries, 'des' with plural countries.
Origin Prepositions
| To | From | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à Paris | de Paris | Je viens de Paris |
| en France | de France | Je viens de France |
| au Canada | du Canada | Je viens du Canada |
| aux USA | des USA | Je viens des États-Unis |
Examples
Je reviens de la boulangerie.
I am coming back from the bakery.
de + feminine noun
Elle arrive du bureau.
She is arriving from the office.
du = de + le
Il sort de la maison.
He is leaving the house.
sortir de = leave from
Nous venons des Pays-Bas.
We come from the Netherlands.
des = de + les