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Describe a room in French: find it, name it, locate it

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Explore a small bedroom in French, then describe what is on, under and beside the furniture. Practise il y a, est, sont and location phrases.

In short

Introduce an object with Il y a une lampe — there is a lamp. Locate an object you already know with La lampe est sur la table — the lamp is on the table. For several known objects, use sont: Les chaussures sont sous le lit.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A tidy small French bedroom with a raised single bed on left, red shoes visible underneath, wooden table with yellow lamp by window, green chair and wardrobe on right, no writing.
Les chaussures sont sous le lit locates the known objects. Illustration: Atelier

Explore the bedroom. Tap an object to read its name and a location sentence, then try the test and find-it modes. The bed, table and window give you clear landmarks.

Dans la chambre : explore, then find it

A tidy small bedroom viewed from the open front wall, slightly above eye level. A single bed stands along the left wall. A pair of red shoes is fully visible be

What is there? Where is it?

Read these patterns before the questions
JobFrenchEnglish
Introduce one objectIl y a une table.There is a table.
Introduce several objectsIl y a deux chaises.There are two chairs.
Locate one known objectLa lampe est sur la table.The lamp is on the table.
Locate several known objectsLes clés sont dans la boîte.The keys are in the box.
Say something is absentIl n’y a pas de télévision.There is no television.

Il y a stays the same with one object or several. A known subject changes the verb: la clé est, les clés sont. In a description, you can move from une table on first mention to la table once the reader knows it.

How do you say where things are in a room in French?

Three useful phrases
FrenchEnglishExample
à côté denext toLa table est à côté du lit.
près denearLa table est près de la fenêtre.
devantin front ofLa chaise est devant la table.

À côté de keeps its de: de + le lit becomes du lit. With la fenêtre, use de la. Devant goes straight before the noun phrase: devant la table.

How do you describe a room in French?

Dans la chambre, il y a un lit, une table et une armoire. La table est à côté du lit. Sur la table, il y a une lampe et une boîte. Les clés sont dans la boîte. Les chaussures sont sous le lit.

In the bedroom, there is a bed, a table and a wardrobe. The table is next to the bed. On the table, there is a lamp and a box. The keys are in the box. The shoes are under the bed.

Question 1No account needed
The shoes are underneath the bed.Les chaussures sont ___ le lit.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

sous. Sous means under. The plural subject takes sont: les chaussures sont sous le lit.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the phrase meaning “next to the bed”.La table est à côté ___ lit.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

du. À côté de + le lit contracts to à côté du lit.

Question 3No account needed
You point to several known keys. Choose the verb.Les clés ___ dans la boîte.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

sont. The subject les clés is plural, so use sont to say where they are.

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