In this grammar lesson you will learn how to say in in French.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- how to say in in French
- how dans and en differ from each other
- how the differences may not always be that clear
- how dans and en are used in French sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on how to say in in French
- how to practice with flashcards on how to say in in French
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn French
Please refer to the French A1 Curriculum to get a better overview of French grammar, if you are curious about this fits in French A1.
By the end of the lesson, you will know all about how to say in in French!
Table of Contents
How to Say In in French
In French there are two ways to say “in”.
- dans + [article] + [noun]
You use this form when you are referring to a real physical place.
- en + noun
You use this form when you are referring to an abstract/general place.
You may read this and be a bit confused.
What is the difference between a real and an abstract place?
Don’t worry, it is perfectly fine to be feeling this.
In the following chapter I will explain the difference between the two.
Dans versus En
In this chapter I am going to explain the difference between dans and en.
You will keep seeing two examples, each with dans and en.
Afterwards, I will compare and contrast the two, so it will be easier for you to understand the differences.
Je suis dans le hall de l’hôtel.
I am in the lobby of the hotel.
Je suis en danger.
I am in danger.
In the first example you can see that the lobby of the hotel is a real physical place.
In the second example you can see that danger is not a real physical place. It is more an abstract concept.
Je suis dans le bureau.
I am in the office.
Je suis en réunion.
I am in a meeting.
In the first example, the office is a room, and a person is in that room. That room is a real physical location.
In the second example someone is in a meeting. However, a meeting is not a real physical location, it is something abstract.
Je suis dans la classe
I am in the classroom.
Je suis en classe
I am in class.
In the first example you are in a classroom. Here you stress the physical location.
In the second example you are having a class/lesson. Here you stress that someone is teaching you something. You are IN the midst of learning. This is not a real physical location, but something more abstract.
You may be thinking, well a class has to be in a real physical location?
That’s not true, it can also be done through at non physical locations such as Zoom, Skype, or Teams.
It is a small nuance, but a nuance that matters.
At this point, I hope that it has become a bit easier for you to understand the difference between a real physical location and an abstract one.
Just keep on practicing and it will become more clear over time!
Sentences Overview of How to Say In in French
The final section of this lesson on how to say in in French is about seeing the dans and en in action.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding on how to say in in French through examples.
Here you can find all of the sentences used, neatly organised in one place.
Je suis dans le hall de l’hôtel.
I am in the lobby of the hotel.
Je suis en danger.
I am in danger.
Je suis dans le bureau.
I am in the office.
Je suis en réunion.
I am in a meeting.
Je suis dans la classe.
I am in the classroom.
Je suis en classe
I am in class.
Quiz Yourself on How to Say In in French
At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want.
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our French A1 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 3,764 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for French A1.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!
