French · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 14
Où est la salle de bain?Where is the bathroom?
To ask where something is, French uses "où" + the verb "être": Où est la salle de bain? — Elle est là-bas. The verb is required (not just "où la salle de bain"). You locate with prepositions: sur, sous, dans, près, loin, à côté, and dedans / là-bas. Le chat est sur la table; le chien est sous la chaise. New vocabulary: où est, dedans, là-bas, salle de bain, sur, sous, dans, près, loin, à côté.
Dialogue
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Le ou la salle de bain?— le or la salle de bain?
- MikeLucas, où est le salle de bain ?Lucas, where's the bathroom? (slip: salle is feminine — say "la salle de bain")
- Lucas« salle » est féminin : la salle de bain."salle" is feminine: la salle de bain.
- MikeAh, où est la salle de bain ?Ah, where's the bathroom?
- LucasElle est là-bas, à côté de la porte.It's over there, next to the door.
Dialogue
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Où est le chat?— Where's the Cat?
- CamilleLucas, où est le chat ?Lucas, where's the cat?
- LucasIl est sur la table. Et le chien est sous la chaise.It's on the table. And the dog is under the chair.
- CamilleEt mon sac ? Il est près ?And my bag? Is it near?
- LucasOui, il est ici, à côté de la chaise.Yes, it's here, next to the chair.
Vocabulary
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- où est
phr.where is
- dedans
adverbinside
- là-bas
adverbover there
- salle de bain
n.f.bathroom (f)
- sur
prepositionon
- sous
prepositionunder
- dans
prepositionin
- près
adverbnear
- loin
adverbfar
- à côté
phr.next to
Grammar
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"où" + "est" (location)
Explanation
To place a thing, French stays on "être": Où est…? — It's very regular. Où est la salle de bain? — Elle est là-bas. The verb "est" is REQUIRED: you don't say "où la salle de bain?". You answer with a place preposition: sur (on), sous (under), dans (in), près de, loin de, à côté de, or dedans / là-bas. Le chat est sur la table. Le chien est sous la chaise. L'argent est dans le sac. Mind the gender in the answer: la salle de bain → elle est; le sac → il est.
Examples
- Où est la salle de bain ? — Elle est là-bas.Where's the bathroom? — It's over there.
- Le chat est sur la table.The cat is on the table.
- Le chien est sous la chaise.The dog is under the chair.
- Ma maison est près, pas loin.My house is near, not far.
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