Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching French grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Le parc est proche de la maison.
What is the grammatical structure of the sentence "Le parc est proche de la maison"?
In this sentence, Le parc is the subject, est is the linking verb (from être), and proche de la maison is the predicate adjective phrase. The structure is similar to the English sentence "The park is close to the house."
What role does the preposition de play in this sentence?
The preposition de is used with the adjective proche to introduce its complement la maison. It establishes the relationship of proximity between the park and the house, similar to saying "close to" in English.
Why are the definite articles le and la used with parc and maison?
In French, definite articles are generally required when referring to specific or contextually understood entities. Here, le parc means "the park" and la maison means "the house," indicating that both are specific objects in this context.
Does the adjective proche need to agree in gender and number with the noun it describes?
Yes, adjectives in French typically agree with the noun they modify. In this sentence, proche describes le parc (a masculine singular noun), so the adjective remains in its base form. Should the noun be plural (e.g., Les parcs), the adjective would usually take the plural form (proches).
Why is the adjective proche placed after the verb est instead of before le parc?
When using the linking verb être, French syntax requires the descriptive adjective to follow the verb. Thus, Le parc est proche... correctly places proche after est to express the state of being near, much like in the English sentence "The park is close..."
Can another adjective be used to express a similar meaning?
Yes, you could use près to convey a similar idea. For example, Le parc est près de la maison also means "The park is near the house." The choice between proche and près can depend on stylistic preference, although both express proximity effectively.