Learn Hardcore French: Je vais chez Marie.

Chez is a preposition that indicates a person's home, workplace, or else a place associated with a person. In "Je vais chez Marie," it implies that you are going to Marie's place, much like saying "I'm going to Marie's" in English.

Why is chez used instead of à when referring to Marie?

In French, chez is used specifically to denote going to a person’s residence or the place where they work. Using à would be typical for locations like cities or establishments (e.g., "Je vais à Paris" or "Je vais au cinéma"), but when you mean a private person’s home, chez is the correct and idiomatic choice.

Why is there no article before Marie after chez?

When chez is followed by a proper name, no article is needed. The preposition chez already implies the possession or association with that person, so "chez Marie" is complete without adding any extra words like "la" or "de."

What does the verb vais indicate in this sentence?

Vais is the first person singular form of the verb aller (to go) in the present tense. It tells us that the subject, je (I), is performing the action. In French, the present tense is often used both for habitual actions and for actions in the near future, so "Je vais chez Marie" can mean "I am going to Marie's" as a current or imminent action.