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Questions & Answers about Le savon est sur le lavabo.
What does sur mean here? Is it “on” or “onto”?
Sur means “on” (in contact with the surface). It can also mean “onto” when there’s movement with verbs like mettre (to put): Mettre le savon sur le lavabo = put the soap onto the sink.
- In contrast: dans = in/inside, au-dessus de = above (not touching), sous = under, contre = against.
Why is it le savon and not la savon?
Because savon (soap) is a masculine noun in French. You must use masculine determiners:
- the soap = le savon
- a soap (a bar of soap) = un savon
- the soaps = les savons
Why is it le lavabo? What’s the difference between lavabo and évier?
Lavabo is masculine, so it takes le. It refers to a bathroom sink (washbasin). Évier is the kitchen sink. So:
- Bathroom: le lavabo
- Kitchen: l’évier
Could I say “in the sink” instead? How would that look?
Yes: dans le lavabo (bathroom) or dans l’évier (kitchen) means “in the sink” (inside the basin). Sur le lavabo means the soap is on the rim/countertop part of the sink, in contact with the top surface.
Why not au lavabo here?
Au = à + le, which means “at the” or “by the.” Le savon est au lavabo can mean the soap is at/near the sink (less precise). Sur le lavabo specifies that it is on top of it.
Do I always need an article after a preposition like sur?
Almost always with common nouns. French typically uses an article:
- Correct: sur le lavabo
- Incorrect: ~sur lavabo~ There are special cases (e.g., en France, chez Paul), but with concrete countable things like a sink, you keep the article.
What’s the difference between le savon, un savon, and du savon?
- Le savon = the (specific) soap, or soap in general (generic statement).
- Un savon = a (single) bar of soap or a single item (e.g., a dispenser).
- Du savon = some soap (an unspecified amount, usually the substance). Examples:
- Il y a un savon sur le lavabo. = There’s a bar of soap on the sink.
- Il y a du savon sur le lavabo. = There’s some soap on the sink (maybe spilled, or available as a substance).
- Le savon est sur le lavabo. = The (known) soap is on the sink.
Can I say C’est sur le lavabo to mean “It’s on the sink”?
Only if what “it” refers to is already clear from context. To refer back to le savon, prefer:
- Il est sur le lavabo. (He/it is on the sink.) Use C’est mainly to identify/introduce: Qu’est-ce qui est sur le lavabo ? — C’est le savon.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
[lə sa-vɔ̃ ɛ syʁ lə la-va-bo]
- le = [lə] (schwa)
- savon = [sa-vɔ̃] (final “n” makes the vowel nasal; don’t pronounce the “n”)
- est = [ɛ] (the “t” is silent)
- sur = [syʁ] (French u is like German ü)
- lavabo = [la-va-bo] No liaison needed here.
Does sur + le ever contract, like au or du?
No. Sur never contracts with articles:
- sur le, sur la, sur les When the next word starts with a vowel, you elide the article: sur l’évier (not a contraction of sur, but le/la → l’).
Can I use dessus instead of sur?
Not in the same way. Dessus can stand alone only if the reference is already known:
- La tablette ? Le savon est dessus. = The shelf? The soap is on it. To say “above” (not touching): au-dessus du lavabo. Don’t say ~dessus le lavabo~; that’s ungrammatical.
How do I ask “Where is the soap?” in French?
- Où est le savon ? Answer: Il est sur le lavabo. You can also hear: Où se trouve le savon ? (more formal) or colloquial Le savon est où ?
How do I say “The soap is not on the sink”?
- Le savon n’est pas sur le lavabo. If you mean there isn’t any soap there at all: Il n’y a pas de savon sur le lavabo.
What if there are several soaps?
Use the plural:
- Les savons sont sur le lavabo.
- Pronoun: Ils sont sur le lavabo.
How can I replace “on the sink” with a pronoun?
Use y for locations introduced by sur/dans/à, etc.:
- Le savon est sur le lavabo. → Le savon y est.
- If the subject is known: Il y est.
Is there any accent in sur? What about sûr?
Different words:
- sur = on (preposition), no accent: Le savon est sur le lavabo.
- sûr(e) = sure/certain (adjective): Je suis sûr(e). Don’t add the accent in the sentence here.
What is est?
It’s the 3rd-person singular of être (to be): il/elle/on est = he/she/it is. The final -t is silent.