{"id":10142,"date":"2017-04-17T14:06:18","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T12:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/?p=10142"},"modified":"2020-08-15T09:48:49","modified_gmt":"2020-08-15T07:48:49","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-dans-and-en-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/french-courses-paris\/what-is-the-difference-between-dans-and-en-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use the French prepositions \u00ab\u00a0dans\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0en\u00a0\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

In this article, you will learn the distinction between the French prepositions \u00ab\u00a0dans\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0en\u00a0\u00bb<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

It is not easy to understand the difference between these two prepositions since they both mean \u00ab\u00a0in\u00a0\u00bb in English<\/h2>\n

\"Studying<\/p>\n

\nThe preposition DANS<\/h3>\n

Dans<\/em><\/strong> is more often used in reference to physical location. \u00ab\u00a0Je suis dans le restaurant<\/em>\u00ab\u00a0. If it helps you to think of it more as \u00ab\u00a0inside of,\u00a0\u00bb I suppose that might work.<\/p>\n

Therefore, dans<\/em><\/strong> is mostly physical \u00ab\u00a0J’entre dans<\/strong> l’\u00e9glise\u00a0\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

It can sometimes be figurative, as in\u00a0:<\/p>\n

dans la situation actuelle<\/em>
\nin the current situation<\/p>\n

dans ces conditions<\/em>
\nin \/ under these conditions<\/p>\n

The preposition EN<\/h3>\n

En<\/em><\/strong> can also be used for some location phrases but when en<\/strong> is used, it is more of a reference to the person’s state or situation: \u00ab\u00a0Je suis en classe\u00a0\u00bb, \u00ab\u00a0Je suis en France.\u00a0\u00bb <\/em>Etc.<\/p>\n

En<\/em><\/strong> is typically more figurative than dans<\/em>: \u00ab\u00a0Je me sp\u00e9cialise en<\/strong> math\u00e9matiques.\u00a0\u00bb<\/em>
\nAlso, en<\/em><\/strong> can be used as an (indirect) object pronoun.<\/p>\n


\nHere is a list of the most important prepositions in French<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Prepositions of TIME<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
French<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\nUsage<\/strong><\/td>\nExample<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00e0<\/em><\/td>\nat<\/td>\nfor times of day<\/td>\n\u00e0 8 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in<\/td>\nfor spring (the season)<\/td>\nau printemps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
for ages or eras<\/td>\nau XX\u00e8me si\u00e8cle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
to<\/td>\nwith from\u00a0\u2026 to\u00a0\u2026<\/em><\/td>\nde 8 heures \u00e0 9 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
apr\u00e8s<\/em><\/td>\nafter<\/td>\nafter a certain event or time<\/td>\napr\u00e8s 8 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
apr\u00e8s le cours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
avant<\/em><\/td>\nbefore<\/td>\nbefore a certain event or time<\/td>\navant 8 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
avant le cours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dans<\/em><\/td>\nin<\/td>\nin\u2026 (how long until something happens)<\/td>\ndans une heure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
de<\/em><\/td>\nfrom<\/td>\nwith from\u00a0\u2026 to\u00a0\u2026<\/em><\/td>\nde 8 heures \u00e0 9 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
du lundi au jeudi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
depuis<\/em><\/td>\nsince, for<\/td>\nstarting at a certain point and continuing until now<\/td>\ndepuis 1980<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
depuis 2 ans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
d\u00e8s<\/em><\/td>\nsince<\/td>\nstarting at a certain point and continuing until now<\/td>\nd\u00e8s 8 heures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
d\u00e8s lundi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
en<\/em><\/td>\nin<\/td>\nmonths<\/td>\nen f\u00e9vrier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
all seasons except for spring<\/td>\nen \u00e9t\u00e9, en automne, en hiver<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in<\/td>\nyears<\/td>\nen 2008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
jusque<\/em><\/td>\nuntil<\/td>\nuntil a certain point<\/td>\njusqu\u2019en f\u00e9vrier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pendant<\/em><\/td>\nduring,
\nfor\u2026<\/td>\n		to indicate how long something lasts<\/td>\npendant les vacances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pendant trois jours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Prepositions of Place (Position and Direction)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
French<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\nUsage<\/strong><\/td>\nExample<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00e0<\/em><\/td>\nin, to<\/td>\nbuildings<\/td>\n\u00e0 la biblioth\u00e8que, au cin\u00e9ma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
city names<\/td>\n\u00e0 Paris<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
country names (masc.)<\/td>\nau P\u00e9rou, aux Etats-Unis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9<\/em><\/td>\nnext to<\/td>\nphysical proximity to sth.<\/td>\nJeanne est \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 de la voiture.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e0 droite<\/em><\/td>\nright<\/td>\nto the right of sth.<\/td>\n\u00e0 droite de la voiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e0 gauche<\/em><\/td>\nleft<\/td>\nto the left of sth.<\/td>\n\u00e0 gauche de la voiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
au-del\u00e0<\/em><\/td>\nbeyond<\/td>\nbeyond, farther than a place<\/td>\nau-del\u00e0 des montagnes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
au-dessous<\/em><\/td>\nbelow<\/td>\nlocated below, but not immediately beneath sth.<\/td>\nau-dessous de la voiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
au-dessus<\/em><\/td>\nabove<\/td>\nlocated above, but not immediately on top of sth.<\/td>\nau-dessus de la voiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e0 travers<\/em><\/td>\nthrough<\/td>\naction that reaches the other side of sth.<\/td>\n\u00e0 travers la porte<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e0 travers la France<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
chez<\/em><\/td>\nat\/to (someone\u2019s place)<\/td>\nat\/to a person\u2019s house\/apartment<\/td>\nchez Christophe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
at\/to a professional\u2019s place of work<\/td>\nchez le coiffeur, chez le fleuriste<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
contre<\/em><\/td>\nagainst<\/td>\nin the sense of leaning on sth.<\/td>\ncontre la voiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dans<\/em><\/td>\nin, into<\/td>\nroom, building, street, city, country<\/td>\ndans la ville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
book, newspaper, etc.<\/td>\ndans le livre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
means of transportation<\/td>\ndans le train<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
world<\/td>\ndans le monde<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
de<\/em><\/td>\nfrom<\/td>\nfrom a place<\/td>\nJe viens de Paris.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
derri\u00e8re<\/em><\/td>\nbehind<\/td>\nbehind sth.<\/td>\nderri\u00e8re la maison<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
en<\/em><\/td>\nin, to<\/td>\ncountry names (fem.)<\/td>\nen France, en Suisse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
en dehors<\/em><\/td>\noutside<\/td>\ndirectly outside of sth.<\/td>\nen-dehors de la maison<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
en face<\/em><\/td>\nacross<\/td>\ndirectly across from sth.<\/td>\nIl habite en face de chez moi.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hors<\/em><\/td>\nout of, outside of<\/td>\noutside the limits of sth.<\/td>\nIl habite hors de la ville.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
loin<\/em><\/td>\nfar<\/td>\ndistance<\/td>\nJ\u2019habite loin de la gare.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
par<\/em><\/td>\nthrough<\/td>\nthrough sth.<\/td>\nregarder par la fen\u00eatre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pr\u00e8s<\/em><\/td>\nnear<\/td>\nphysical proximity<\/td>\nJ\u2019habite pr\u00e8s de la gare.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sous<\/em><\/td>\nunder<\/td>\ndirectly under sth.<\/td>\nsous la table<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sur<\/em><\/td>\nover<\/td>\ndirectly over sth.<\/td>\nsur la t\u00eate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on<\/td>\ndirectly on sth.<\/td>\nsur la table<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
vers<\/em><\/td>\ntowards<\/td>\nin the direction of sth.<\/td>\nVa vers le nord!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
near<\/td>\nnear\u00a0\u2026<\/td>\nVersailles se trouve vers Paris.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this article, you will learn the distinction between the French prepositions \u00ab\u00a0dans\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0en\u00a0\u00bb It is not easy to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2618],"tags":[2684,2686,2685,2889,2890],"class_list":["post-10142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-french-courses-paris","category-french-grammar","tag-difference-between-dans-and-en-in-french","tag-distinction-between-en-and-dans-in-french","tag-important-prepositions-in-french","tag-preposition-of-place","tag-preposition-of-time"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t