Place adverbs describe where an action takes place. In French, these adverbs can indicate specific locations, directions, or general places. Common examples include ici (here), là (there), partout (everywhere), aujourd'hui (today), and ailleurs (elsewhere).
Placement Rules
Most place adverbs are placed after the verb or after the past participle in compound tenses. If there's a direct object, the adverb usually goes after the object.
Summary:
- Place adverb after the conjugated verb in simple tenses.
- In compound tenses (e.g., passé composé), place the adverb after the past participle.
- If there is a direct object, place the adverb after the object.
- For infinitives, place the adverb after the infinitive.
- Some adverbs can also begin or end a sentence for emphasis.
| Example Type | Placement Rule | Example (French) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Tenses (present, imparfait) | After the conjugated verb or after the object | Je vais ici. / Je vois Marie ici. | I go here. / I see Marie here. |
| Compound Tenses (passé composé, plus-que-parfait) | After the past participle or after the object | J’ai été ici. / Je l’ai vu ici. | I have been here. / I saw him here. |
| Infinitive | After the infinitive | Je préfère partir là. | I prefer to leave there. |
| Emphatic Placement | At beginning or end of sentence for emphasis | Ici, tout est propre. / Tout est propre ici. | Here, everything is clean. / Everything is clean here. |
Examples
+ Simple present: Nous mangeons dehors. (We eat outside.)
+ Passé composé: Elle est allée partout. (She went everywhere.)
+ Infinitive: Je veux rester ici. (I want to stay here.)
+ Object + adverb: Je regarde le jardin dehors. (I look at the garden outside.)
+ Emphasis: Là-bas, c’est la plage. (Over there is the beach.)
Demonstratives
Place adverbs can combine with -bas (down) or -haut (up) to indicate direction:
- là-bas (over there)
- ici-bas (down here, literary)
- haut là (up there, rare)
Summary
Place adverbs in French usually follow the verb or past participle, and come after objects if present. They can also be positioned at the start or end of a sentence for emphasis.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Example Type: Simple Tenses (present, imparfait)
- Placement Rule: After the conjugated verb or after the object
- Example (English): I go here. / I see Marie here.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
