La prise est sur le mur.

The outlet is on the wall.

Breakdown of La prise est sur le mur.

• être: to be
• sur: on
• le mur: the wall
• la prise: the outlet

Questions & Answers about La prise est sur le mur.

What does prise mean in this sentence?

In this context, prise refers to an electrical outlet or socket—the device you plug appliances into. Although prise can also mean “grab” or “capture” in other situations, here it clearly denotes the outlet.

Why is the definite article la used with prise instead of le?

The noun prise is feminine, so it takes the feminine definite article la. In French, articles must agree in gender with the noun they modify, which is why we say la prise.

What does the preposition sur indicate in this sentence?

Sur translates to on in English. It indicates the location of the subject by showing that the outlet is positioned on the wall.

Why is mur preceded by the masculine article le?

Because mur is a masculine noun in French, it is accompanied by the masculine definite article le. The agreement between the noun and its article is a basic rule in French grammar.

How is the sentence structured in terms of grammar, and how does it compare to English?