Log inSign up

La table est grande et le chien dort dessous.

La table est grande et le chien dort dessous.
The table is big and the dog sleeps underneath.
From Lesson 92:Complex prepositions of location (près de, à côté de)·French

Questions & Answers about La table est grande et le chien dort dessous.

Why does this sentence use dessous instead of sous?
Both words mean "under," but they are used differently. Sous is a preposition that must be followed by a noun (like sous la table). Dessous is an adverb meaning "underneath" and stands on its own. Since we already know we are talking about the table, we use dessous to avoid repeating it.
Why does grande have an "e" at the end?
It is describing La table, which is a feminine noun. In French, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe, so we add an "e" to the masculine grand to make it the feminine grande.
Which verb is dort?
Dort is the "he/she/it" form of the irregular verb dormir (to sleep). Since le chien (the dog) acts as "he" (il), we use dort.
Do you pronounce the "s" at the end of dessous?
No, the final "s" in dessous is silent. It sounds like "duh-soo". This is common in French, where many ending consonants are not pronounced.

Learn La table est grande et le chien dort dessous and more in French

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning French →