Tuesday 10 September 2013

CBSE Class 6/7/8/9 - French Grammar - Prepositions for Places

Prepositions for Places

Usage of Prepositions Au/En, Du/De = names of countries
(Au/En, Du/De + noms de pays)

All countries in French are gendered. Countries whose spelling ends with ‘e’ are feminine.

But there are four such countries whose spelling ends with ‘e’ but they are masculine.
  • Mozambique
  • Mexique
  • Zaire
  • Zimbabwe

There are plural countries also.
  • The USA (les Etats-Unis)
  • The West Indies (les Antilles)
  • The Netherlands (les Pays-Bas)


When we talk about going to or being in a country which is feminine, we use en.
For example:
  • I am going to Russia (Je vais en Russie)
  • He is working in France (Il travaille en France)

En is also used for all names of masculine countries beginning with a vowel.
For example:
  • I am going to Iran. (Je vais en Iran).
  • He is working in India. (Je travaille en Inde).
When we talk about going to or being in a country which is masculine, we use au
For example:
  • I am going to Canada. (Je vais au Canada).
  • He is working in Japan. (Iltravaille au Japon).


When we talk about going to or being in a country which are plural, we use aux
For example:
  • I am going to USA. (Je vais aux Etats-Unis).
  • He is working in the West Indies. (Il travaille aux Antilles).

When we talk about going to or being in a city we use à
For example:
  • I am going to Paris. (Je vais à Paris).
  • He is working in Delhi. (Il travaille à Delhi).
  • I am going to Chennai. (Je vais à Chennai).

When we talk about coming from or belonging to a feminine country, we use de or d’ (countries beginning with a vowel).
For example:
  • I am coming from France. (Je viens de France).
  • I am from Iran. (Il est d’Iran).

When we talk about coming from or belonging to a masculine country, we use du.
For example:
  • I am coming from Japan. (Je viens du Japon).
  • I am coming from Mexico. (Je suis du Mexique).

When we talk about coming from or belonging to a plural country, we use des.
For example:
  • I am coming from USA. (Je viens des Etats-Unis).
  • I belong to the West Indies. (Je suis des Antilles).

When we talk about coming from or belonging to a city, we use de.
For example:
  • I am coming from Delhi .(Je viens de Delhi).
  • I am from Paris. (Je suis de Paris).

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