Nous aimons l'endroit près du parc.

We like the place near the park.

Breakdown of Nous aimons l'endroit près du parc.

• aimer: to like
• nous: we
• près de: near
• le parc: the park
• l'endroit: the place

Questions & Answers about Nous aimons l'endroit près du parc.

Why is l'endroit used instead of le endroit?

In French, when a noun beginning with a vowel sound (or a mute h) follows a masculine singular article, the article contracts to l' to ensure smooth pronunciation. Hence, le endroit becomes l'endroit.

What does the contraction du represent in près du parc?

Du is the contracted form of de le. Since près de (meaning "near") always requires the preposition de and parc is a masculine noun, de le parc contracts to du parc.

What are the roles of nous and aimons in this sentence?

Nous is the subject pronoun meaning "we," and aimons is the present tense conjugation of the verb aimer for that subject. Together, they form the main clause expressing that "we love" the place mentioned.

What function does the phrase près du parc serve in the sentence?

The phrase près du parc acts as an adverbial phrase, providing additional information about the location of l'endroit. It clarifies that the place being loved is situated near the park.

Does the verb aimer have any nuances in meaning that a learner should be aware of?

Yes, aimer can mean both "to love" and "to like" in French, depending on the context. In this sentence, it is generally interpreted as "to love," but in other contexts it could express a milder affection equivalent to "like."