"to my room"

HelenC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"to my room"

The lesson shows"Je vais dans ma chambre pour m'habiller ". Why are we using "dans" here and not ' a ma chambre" -- to my room.
Asked 6 years ago
ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Hi Helen,

the use of directional prepositions in French is different from English. Also, the French don't differentiate as acutely between being somewhere (location) and going somewhere (direction).

Je suis dans ma chambre = I am in my room.
Je vais dans ma chambre = I am going to my room.

The difference of location versus direction is carried by the verb (je suis vs. je vais).

-- Chris (not a native speaker).
RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Helen, This seems like a very good question to me; I had not looked at it like this previously. I will be interested to learn the reasoning, too. Bonne journée
HelenC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I'm hoping Aurélie responds:)
RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Chris, Merci for your excellent explanation. Ron

"to my room"

The lesson shows"Je vais dans ma chambre pour m'habiller ". Why are we using "dans" here and not ' a ma chambre" -- to my room.

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