Whereas if you say I'll finish this drawing
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 7:25 am
Be careful not to confuse "en" and "dans". Both prepositions can be used to talk about a duration. However, they have a different meaning. Let's take an example. If you have I will finish this drawing "in" five days, and if you have I will finish this drawing "in" five days. Do you understand the difference? I will finish this drawing "in" five days. I will finish this drawing "in" five days. Yes, that's it. With "en", it's the duration you need. If you say I will finish this drawing "in" five days, it means that you will need five days in total. We don't know when you will start, but we know that it will take you five days.
"in" five days, that means you'll take five days from today. Okay, "in five days" means five days from today. Whereas "in five days" means you'll need five days in total. There's still a clear difference between "in" and "in".
Second use of "en", we use it in front of means of transport, and here we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "à". We use the preposition "en" for means of transport that we can enter. For lebanon whatsapp number data example, I came "en" by car. It is faster to travel "en" by train than "en" by bus. You see here that the train, the bus, the car are means of transport that you can enter. We use the preposition "à" for means of transport that we straddle, that is to say on which we sit or on which we stand.
For example, he came to work "by" a bike. Or he likes to go on weekends "by" a motorbike or he likes to go for a ride "by" a horse. Small note, what I have just explained to you is the theory. In practice, we increasingly use the preposition "en" instead of "à" in speaking. Many French speakers say "en vélo" rather than "à vélo". Or they say "en moto" instead of "à moto". But the correct form is "à" for these means of transport that we ride.
Third use of "en" to express a state. It is used to answer the question "how?". For example, it can be used to describe a physical or psychological state. Physical, the body. Psychological, in the head. For example, it is hot. He is "en" sweating. That is to say, he is sweating. She is sad. She is "en" tears. That means she is crying. My father is "en" angry. That means he is upset. Or, I am "en" shape. That means I have lots of energy.
We can also use "en" to describe an appearance or outfit. For example, she came "en" uniform or I'm going to dress up "as" Dracula. Or I'm going to dress up "as" a ghost for Halloween.
Fourth use of the preposition "en", we use it in front of continents and countries. Once again, we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "à". "En" is used for feminine country names. We say "en" China, "en" France, "en" Belgium, because we say China, France, Belgium. We use "en" for country names that begin with a vowel. We say "en" Iran, "en" Italy, "en" Ireland.
And we use "en" in front of continents. "In" Europe, "in" Asia, "in" Africa, "in" America. Be careful, when we want to talk about a city, we do not use the preposition "en" but the preposition "à". We say "à" Paris, "à" Rome, "à" London, "à" Berlin. And we use the preposition "à" in front of masculine countries. "À" then becomes "au" since we do not say "à le", but "au". So, we use the preposition "à" plus "le" which becomes "au" to talk about masculine countries. We say "au" Portugal, "au" Chile, "au" Rwanda, etc.
So, you have to be careful with countries. If the country is feminine, we say "en", "en" France because it is France. If the country is masculine, we say "au", for example "au" Chile because we say Chile.
Fifth and final use of the preposition "en" to introduce a place complement. And here, we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "dans". For example, we say I live "in" the city, but we say I live "in" the city of Brussels. So, how do we know if we say "en" or "dans"? Well, "dans" is followed by an article, le, la or les. That's why we said "dans la" city of Brussels, we wouldn't say "en la" city of Brussels.
"in" five days, that means you'll take five days from today. Okay, "in five days" means five days from today. Whereas "in five days" means you'll need five days in total. There's still a clear difference between "in" and "in".
Second use of "en", we use it in front of means of transport, and here we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "à". We use the preposition "en" for means of transport that we can enter. For lebanon whatsapp number data example, I came "en" by car. It is faster to travel "en" by train than "en" by bus. You see here that the train, the bus, the car are means of transport that you can enter. We use the preposition "à" for means of transport that we straddle, that is to say on which we sit or on which we stand.
For example, he came to work "by" a bike. Or he likes to go on weekends "by" a motorbike or he likes to go for a ride "by" a horse. Small note, what I have just explained to you is the theory. In practice, we increasingly use the preposition "en" instead of "à" in speaking. Many French speakers say "en vélo" rather than "à vélo". Or they say "en moto" instead of "à moto". But the correct form is "à" for these means of transport that we ride.
Third use of "en" to express a state. It is used to answer the question "how?". For example, it can be used to describe a physical or psychological state. Physical, the body. Psychological, in the head. For example, it is hot. He is "en" sweating. That is to say, he is sweating. She is sad. She is "en" tears. That means she is crying. My father is "en" angry. That means he is upset. Or, I am "en" shape. That means I have lots of energy.
We can also use "en" to describe an appearance or outfit. For example, she came "en" uniform or I'm going to dress up "as" Dracula. Or I'm going to dress up "as" a ghost for Halloween.
Fourth use of the preposition "en", we use it in front of continents and countries. Once again, we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "à". "En" is used for feminine country names. We say "en" China, "en" France, "en" Belgium, because we say China, France, Belgium. We use "en" for country names that begin with a vowel. We say "en" Iran, "en" Italy, "en" Ireland.
And we use "en" in front of continents. "In" Europe, "in" Asia, "in" Africa, "in" America. Be careful, when we want to talk about a city, we do not use the preposition "en" but the preposition "à". We say "à" Paris, "à" Rome, "à" London, "à" Berlin. And we use the preposition "à" in front of masculine countries. "À" then becomes "au" since we do not say "à le", but "au". So, we use the preposition "à" plus "le" which becomes "au" to talk about masculine countries. We say "au" Portugal, "au" Chile, "au" Rwanda, etc.
So, you have to be careful with countries. If the country is feminine, we say "en", "en" France because it is France. If the country is masculine, we say "au", for example "au" Chile because we say Chile.
Fifth and final use of the preposition "en" to introduce a place complement. And here, we must be careful not to confuse "en" and "dans". For example, we say I live "in" the city, but we say I live "in" the city of Brussels. So, how do we know if we say "en" or "dans"? Well, "dans" is followed by an article, le, la or les. That's why we said "dans la" city of Brussels, we wouldn't say "en la" city of Brussels.