Plurelising the mountains

Martin R.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Plurelising the mountains

In the sentence J'adore la vie à la montagne, I translate that as I love the life in the mountains. I was wondering why it isn't J’adore la vie dans les montagnes. Could anyone explain please?

Merci beaucoup

Asked 2 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Martin,

J'adore la vie à la montagne = I love living in the mountains

 -> the general place (just like you would say "at the seaside" -> "à la mer")

J’adore la vie dans les montagnes = I love living in(side) the mountains

 -> "inside all them" (just like you would say "il y a une souris dans le placard" = "there is a mouse inside the cupboard")

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

"à la montagne" is a fixed expression. It is used in the same way that you would say "J'adore la vie à Paris", or "J'adore la vie en Frace", speaking in a general (almost abstract) sense about a place, region etc 

The lesson on using dans/en linked below is pertinent here, I think.

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/à%20la%20montagne

En vs Dans with locations (French Prepositions of Location)

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Céline and my answers seem to have hit at the same moment !

Martin R. asked:

Plurelising the mountains

In the sentence J'adore la vie à la montagne, I translate that as I love the life in the mountains. I was wondering why it isn't J’adore la vie dans les montagnes. Could anyone explain please?

Merci beaucoup

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...