Articles and Prepositions with Geographical Locations
4.8.1. The Main Idea
French uses different prepositions with cities, countries, continents, and regions.
J’habite à Calgary. | I live in Calgary. |
Je vais au Canada. | I am going to Canada. |
Je viens de Chine. | I come from China. |
Elle habite en France. | She lives in France. |
The preposition depends on the type of place and sometimes on gender.
4.8.2. Cities
Use à with cities.
J’habite à Calgary. | I live in Calgary. |
Je vais à Paris. | I am going to Paris. |
Il habite à Montréal. | He lives in Montreal. |
Elle va à Beijing. | She is going to Beijing. |
Nous sommes à Vancouver. | We are in Vancouver. |
4.8.3. Coming From Cities
Use de with cities.
Je viens de Calgary. | I come from Calgary. |
Tu viens de Beijing ? | Do you come from Beijing? |
Il vient de Paris. | He comes from Paris. |
Elle vient de Montréal. | She comes from Montreal. |
Nous venons de Vancouver. | We come from Vancouver. |
4.8.4. Feminine Countries
Many countries ending in -e are feminine. Use en for in / to with feminine countries.
la France | France |
la Chine | China |
la Belgique | Belgium |
la Suisse | Switzerland |
l’Italie | Italy |
l’Espagne | Spain |
en France | in / to France |
en Chine | in / to China |
en Belgique | in / to Belgium |
en Suisse | in / to Switzerland |
en Italie | in / to Italy |
en Espagne | in / to Spain |
4.8.5. Masculine Countries
Use au for in / to with masculine singular countries.
le Canada | Canada |
le Japon | Japan |
le Mexique | Mexico |
le Brésil | Brazil |
le Portugal | Portugal |
le Maroc | Morocco |
au Canada | in / to Canada |
au Japon | in / to Japan |
au Mexique | in / to Mexico |
au Brésil | in / to Brazil |
au Portugal | in / to Portugal |
au Maroc | in / to Morocco |
4.8.6. Plural Countries
Use aux for in / to with plural countries.
les États-Unis | the United States |
les Pays-Bas | the Netherlands |
les Philippines | the Philippines |
aux États-Unis | in / to the United States |
aux Pays-Bas | in / to the Netherlands |
aux Philippines | in / to the Philippines |
4.8.7. Coming From Countries
Use de, d’, du, or des to say from a country.
de France | from France |
de Chine | from China |
d’Italie | from Italy |
du Canada | from Canada |
du Japon | from Japan |
des États-Unis | from the United States |
des Pays-Bas | from the Netherlands |
4.8.8. Continents
Use en with continents.
en Asie | in / to Asia |
en Europe | in / to Europe |
en Afrique | in / to Africa |
en Amérique du Nord | in / to North America |
en Amérique du Sud | in / to South America |
en Océanie | in / to Oceania |
4.8.9. Provinces, States, and Regions
Many provinces, states, and regions use en, au, or dans le / dans la depending on the name.
en Alberta | in / to Alberta |
en Ontario | in / to Ontario |
au Québec | in / to Quebec |
en Californie | in / to California |
au Texas | in / to Texas |
dans le nord du Canada | in northern Canada |
dans la région de Calgary | in the Calgary region |
4.8.10. Articles with Countries
Countries usually have articles in French.
la France | France |
la Chine | China |
le Canada | Canada |
le Japon | Japan |
les États-Unis | the United States |
les Pays-Bas | the Netherlands |
But after en, the article disappears.
la France → en France | in / to France |
la Chine → en Chine | in / to China |
After au and aux, the article is built into the word.
à + le Canada → au Canada | in / to Canada |
à + les États-Unis → aux États-Unis | in / to the United States |
4.8.11. Core Patterns
à + city | in / to a city |
de + city | from a city |
en + feminine country | in / to a feminine country |
au + masculine country | in / to a masculine country |
aux + plural country | in / to a plural country |
de / d’ + feminine country | from a feminine country |
du + masculine country | from a masculine country |
des + plural country | from a plural country |
4.8.12. Practice
I live in Calgary. |
I am going to Paris. |
I come from Beijing. |
I live in France. |
I am going to China. |
I am going to Canada. |
He comes from Canada. |
She comes from China. |
They live in the United States. |
We are going to Japan. |
4.8.13. Answers
I live in Calgary. | J’habite à Calgary. |
I am going to Paris. | Je vais à Paris. |
I come from Beijing. | Je viens de Beijing. |
I live in France. | J’habite en France. |
I am going to China. | Je vais en Chine. |
I am going to Canada. | Je vais au Canada. |
He comes from Canada. | Il vient du Canada. |
She comes from China. | Elle vient de Chine. |
They live in the United States. | Ils habitent aux États-Unis. |
We are going to Japan. | Nous allons au Japon. |
4.8.14. Short Dialogue
A : Tu habites où ? | A: Where do you live? |
B : J’habite à Calgary, au Canada. Et toi ? | B: I live in Calgary, in Canada. And you? |
A : Moi, je viens de Beijing, en Chine. | A: I come from Beijing, in China. |
B : Très bien ! | B: Very good! |
4.8.15. Checkpoint
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use à and de with cities, en, au, and aux with countries, de, du, and des to say where someone is from, and recognize the articles used with common geographical locations.
4.8.16. Try It Out
Try saying this in French:
I live in [your city].
I come from [your country].
Possible answer:
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