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French

Place Adverbs

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A comprehensive guide to French place adverbs, including examples and rules for describing location, direction, and movement.

French place adverbs describe where something happens, indicating location, direction, or movement. These adverbs can stand alone or come after the verb to show where an action takes place.
Common French place adverbs include:
AdverbMeaningExample (FR)Example (EN)
icihereJe suis ici.I am here.
làthereElle va là.She goes there.
partouteverywhereIl cherche partout.He looks everywhere.
ailleurselsewhereNous allons ailleurs.We are going elsewhere.
dessusaboveLa lampe est dessus.The lamp is above.
dessousbelowLe chat est dessous.The cat is below.
devantin frontJe suis devant.I am in front.
derrièrebehindIl est derrière.He is behind.
à côténext toElle est à côté.She is next to.
partouteverywhereIl cherche partout.He looks everywhere.
French also uses prepositional phrases for more specific locations, but this guide focuses on simple adverbs.

Usage Rules

French place adverbs usually come after the verb or at the end of the sentence:
  • Je travaille ici. (I work here.)
  • Ils habitent là. (They live there.)
  • Nous sommes partout. (We are everywhere.)
If the verb is compound (e.g., passé composé), place the adverb after the past participle:
  • J’ai été ici. (I have been here.)
  • Ils sont allés là. (They went there.)
To avoid ambiguity, rewrite or add context if needed:
  • Je l’ai vue dessous (I saw her below) — Specify “où” if unclear: Je l’ai vue où? Dessous.
Some place adverbs can be combined with prepositions for emphasis:
  • juste ici (right here)
  • tout là-bas (way over there)
  • un peu partout (a little everywhere)

In a sentence with a compound verb (e.g., passé composé), where should the place adverb be placed?


After the past participle
When using compound tenses, French place adverbs are placed after the past participle to clearly indicate the location of the action.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong order is a frequent error. The adverb should not come before the verb in simple sentences:
  • Incorrect: *ici je travaille
  • Correct: Je travaille ici.
Don’t confuse place adverbs with temporal adverbs:
  • ici vs. aujourd’hui (here vs. today)
  • là vs. demain (there vs. tomorrow)
Avoid using à before simple place adverbs:
  • Incorrect: *Je suis à ici
  • Correct: Je suis ici.
Be careful with dessus and dessous — they don’t need “à” and usually follow the noun or verb:
  • Le livre est dessus. (The book is on top.)
  • Le chat est dessous. (The cat is below.)

Which type of mistake involves mixing up place adverbs with words like 'aujourd’hui' or 'demain'?


Confusing place adverbs with temporal adverbs
Place adverbs indicate location (e.g., 'ici'), while temporal adverbs indicate time (e.g., 'aujourd’hui'). Confusing these changes the meaning entirely.

Examples

French SentenceEnglish Translation
Je suis ici.I am here.
Mets la boîte dessus.Put the box on top.
Ils habitent là-bas.They live over there.
Le chat dort dessous la table.The cat sleeps under the table.
Tu as vu Paul devant?Did you see Paul in front?
Elle est derrière le rideau.She is behind the curtain.
Nous sommes à côté du cinéma.We are next to the cinema.
Vous cherchez partout?Are you looking everywhere?
Je vais ailleurs ce soir.I’m going elsewhere tonight.
Le tableau est au-dessus du lit.The painting is above the bed.

Summary

French place adverbs are essential for indicating location, direction, or movement. They usually follow the verb and are used alone or with prepositional phrases. Common mistakes involve word order, unnecessary prepositions, and confusion with temporal adverbs. Using them correctly allows you to describe scenes and navigate spaces with confidence.

Flashcards (1 of 10)

    • English Translation: I am here.
    Next Up: Time Adverbs

    Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025

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