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 !

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

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