Chapter 14: Les Prépositions (The GPS Words)

Where is the cat? On the table? Under the table? In Paris? Let's locate things.

Location, Location, Location

Prepositions are small words that tell us WHERE things are. In French, they are crucial for survival.

Part 1: Physical Placement

Imagine a blue box relative to a wireframe box.

Sur On

Sous Under

Dans In / Inside

Devant In front of

Derrière Behind

Entre Between

Part 2: Cities vs. Countries (The "À/En" Headache)

Cities

Use À

Cities are dots on a map. We go AT the dot.

Je vais à Paris.
Il habite à New York.

Countries (Feminine)

Use En

Most countries end in 'e' (France, Espagne). They are feminine. Used for regions too.

Je vais en France.
Nous sommes en Espagne.

*If the country is Masculine (e.g., Le Canada), use Au (Je vais au Canada).

Part 3: The Magic "Chez"

Chez = "At the place of"

We don't say "At the house of Paul". We say Chez Paul.

Dialogue: Où est mon Chat ?

Looking for a lost cat.

Pierre

Où est Minou ? Il est dans la cuisine ?

(Where is Minou? Is he in the kitchen?)

Non. Regarde sur le canapé.

(No. Look on the sofa.)

Marie

Pierre

Ah ! Il est sous la table !

(Ah! He is under the table!)

Le Coin Culturel: Paris Rive Gauche / Droite

In Paris, location is everything. The Seine river splits the city into two banks: La Rive Gauche (Left Bank - artistic, intellectual) and La Rive Droite (Right Bank - business, fashion). Saying "J'habite Rive Gauche" tells people a lot about your lifestyle!

Where is it?

I live ___ Paris.

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