French Grammar: Prepositions with Geographical Place Names
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Identify:
French Grammar: Prepositions with Geographical Place Names
la grammaire française: les prépositions avec les noms de lieux géographiques
In French, both the type of geographical place and the gender of that place dictate how to translate the words ‘in’ and ‘to’!
Study:
In French, when the name of a continent, country, or region is used as the subject or object of a verb, you generally need to use the definite article with that place:
L’Europe est un continent.
Europe is a continent.
J’adore la France!
I love France!
Le Québec est une province du Canada.
Quebec is a province of Canada.
Les États-Unis est un grand pays.
The United States is a big country.
In French, both the type of geographical place and the gender of that place dictate how to translate the words ‘in’ and ‘to’!
The way to say ‘in’ or ‘to’ with geographical places depends on whether the place is a continent, a country, a region, a city, or a town.
It also depends on whether the continent, country, or region is feminine or masculine in gender. In general, most continents, countries, and regions that end in ‘-e’ are feminine; those that end in any other letter are usually masculine. Exceptions: le Mexique (Mexico) and le Royaume-Uni (the United Kingdom).
(a) For countries, continents, or regions that have feminine gender (and this is the majority) AND for masculine countries, continents, or regions that begin with a vowel, use EN:
Mon amie habite en France.
My friend (feminine) lives in France.
Le Sénégal est en Afrique.
Senegal is in Africa.
Ottawa se trouve en Ontario, Canada.
Ottawa is located in Ontario, Canada.
Le président voyage en Israël.
The president is traveling to Israel.
(b) For masculine countries, continents, or regions that begin with a consonant, use AU (or AUX for a plural noun):
Ils ont acheté une maison au Panama.
They bought a house in Panama.
J’habite aux États-Unis.
I live in the United States.
(c) For all cities and towns, use À:
La statue de la Liberté se trouve à New York.
The Statue of Liberty is located in New York City.
Le musée du Louvre se trouve à Paris.
The Louvre Museum is located in Paris.
Adapt:
Vous voyagez où?
Where are you (formal) traveling?
Je voyage en Belgique.
I am traveling to Belgium.
Où se trouve Acapulco?
Where is Acapulco located?
Acapulco se trouve au Mexique.
Acapulco is located in Mexico.
Tu habites à Chicago?
Do you (informal) live in Chicago?
Non, j’habite à Los Angeles.
No, I live in Los Angeles.
