AtelierLe journal · French, understood
English

Language

The course

Updated

Cheat sheet

French location adverbs: dedans, dehors, dessus and dessous

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose dedans, dehors, dessus or dessous in short French replies. Compare them with dans, sur and sous, then practise locations with picture cards and a drill.

In short

Use dedans for inside, dehors for outside, dessus for on top and dessous for underneath when the place is already clear. Compare Le livre est sur la table with Le livre est dessus. To name the place in these basic patterns, use dans, sur or sous + the noun.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Keys inside a box, a book on a table and a bag beneath a chair.
The scene gives concrete places for dedans, dessus and dessous. Illustration: Atelier

Location replies · seven rules

1 · 1 · Dans names the container; dedans points back to it

With dans, say which container or place. In a short reply, dedans can refer back to the container already mentioned.

Les clés sont dans la boîte.The keys are in the box.

Tu as vérifié la boîte ? Les clés sont dedans.Have you checked the box? The keys are inside it.

2 · 2 · Dehors means outside

Dehors can mean outside the house or building understood from the situation. To name a boundary explicitly, use à l’extérieur de.

Les enfants jouent dehors.The children are playing outside.

Les enfants jouent à l’extérieur de la maison.The children are playing outside the house.

3 · 3 · Sur names the support; dessus avoids repeating it

Use sur la table to identify the support. Once the table is established, dessus means on it or on top of it.

Le livre est sur la table.The book is on the table.

La table est près de la fenêtre. Le livre est dessus.The table is near the window. The book is on it.

4 · 4 · Sous names what is above; dessous points back

Dessous means underneath the object already mentioned. Watch the vowels: dessous has ou, while dessus has u.

Le sac est sous la chaise.The bag is under the chair.

Regarde la chaise : le sac est dessous.Look at the chair: the bag is underneath it.

5 · 5 · Keep the reference clear

If several objects could be meant, name the place again. A short adverb reply works best just after the relevant object is mentioned.

Tu vois la boîte ? Les clés sont dedans.Can you see the box? The keys are inside it.

Le sac est sous la chaise, près de la porte.The bag is under the chair, near the door.

6 · 6 · Là-dedans adds a pointing element

Là-dedans, là-dessus and là-dessous point towards a location: in there, on there, under there. Keep the hyphen.

Mets les clés là-dedans.Put the keys in there.

Pose ton livre là-dessus.Put your book on there.

7 · 7 · Au-dessus de and au-dessous de name vertical positions

These expressions take a named reference point. Au-dessus de means above; contact with a surface is not implied.

La lampe est au-dessus de la table.The lamp is above the table.

L’appartement de Léa est au-dessous du mien.Léa’s flat is below mine.

Study the full phrase, then the short reply
Full phraseShort replyLocation
dans la boîtededansinside
à l’extérieur de la maisondehorsoutside
sur la tabledessuson top
sous la chaisedessousunderneath

Four objects to locate things around

1 · Replace the repeated location with one adverb

  1. Les clés sont dans la boîte. Elles sont . (inside the box)
  2. Le livre est sur la table. Il est . (on the table)
  3. Le sac est sous la chaise. Il est . (under the chair)
  4. Les enfants sont à l’extérieur de la maison. Ils sont . (outside)
  5. Le panier est ouvert. Mets les chaussettes . (inside the basket)
  6. Le banc est libre. Pose ton sac . (on the bench)

Question 1No account needed
The scarf is under the coat. Complete the short reply.Tu vois le manteau ? L’écharpe est ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

dessous. Dessous refers to the space underneath the coat; dessus would mean on top.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence names the container with the usual preposition?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Les clés sont dans la boîte.. Use dans before the named container in this pattern: dans la boîte.

Question 3No account needed
Which phrase describes a lamp above a table without implying contact?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

au-dessus de la table. Au-dessus de gives a higher position relative to the table; it does not imply resting on it.

Keep going