To describe spatial organization and structural layout, you often need to talk about shapes and where objects are located relative to one another.
Shapes
When describing une forme (a shape), remember that shape adjectives like carré (square) and rond (round) follow standard agreement rules. They add an -e when describing a feminine noun.
| It is a square shape. | C'est une forme carrée. |
| This building has a round shape. | Ce bâtiment a une forme ronde. |
| My grandfather's hat is round. | Le chapeau de mon grand-père est rond. |
Complex prepositions and contractions with "de"
Many French prepositions of location are "complex prepositions," meaning they are made up of a phrase that ends with the word de. Common examples include:
- près de (near to)
- loin de (far from)
- en face de (opposite / facing)
- à côté de (next to)
When de is followed by a definite article (le, la, l', les), mandatory contractions occur. While de la and de l' remain unchanged, de combined with le or les creates a brand new word.
| Word combination | Contraction |
|---|---|
| de + le | du |
| de + les | des |
| de + la | de la (no change) |
| de + l' | de l' (no change) |
Près de and loin de
Pay close attention to how de contracts (or doesn't) depending on the gender and number of the noun that follows it.
| There is a large bed near the wall. | Il y a un grand lit près du mur. |
| The dog is sleeping near the entrance. | Le chien dort près de l'entrée. |
| My office is far from the hallway. | Mon bureau est loin du couloir. |
| The large hallway is far from the bedrooms. | Le grand couloir est loin des chambres. |
En face de and à côté de
The exact same contraction rules apply to all complex prepositions ending in de.
| The bag is on the floor opposite the sofa. | Le sac est sur le sol en face du canapé. |
| The bed is next to the wall. | Le lit est à côté du mur. |
| The hotel is next to the museums. | L'hôtel est à côté des musées. |
