Use of EN and not DANS in the 'Transport' section above.

Stewart H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Use of EN and not DANS in the 'Transport' section above.

In he lessson: 'Monter can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning', the following example is given that uses EN not DANS.

Nous sommes tous montés EN voiture.

Could you please explain why DANS is not used as the 'Transport' section above states that DANS should be used.

Thank you.

Asked 6 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Stewart, 

If I may just add...

"Nous sommes tous montés en voiture." would translate, "We all climbed into the car.".

The expression here is 'monter en voiture'.

When you use 'dans' , it often means inside in English .

J'ai laissé mon sac dans la voiture. (I left my bag in the car.)

Les enfants sont dans la voiture. ( The children are in the car.)

'En' is most used for modes of transportation 

Nous y sommes allés en voiture. (We went there by car.)

Hope his helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

There is a no real difference in meaning between using en voiture and dans la voiture. They are synonymous.

But not so using aller. 

Nous sommes allés en voiture. -- We went by car.

Nous sommes allés dans la voiture. -- We went in the car. 

-- Chris (not a native speaker)..

Stewart H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks Chris, I now understand.
Carol W.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
He is in the car ,, en or dans?

I'm getting very confused, thought there was a lesson saying en if vechile like bus train à if single

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Carol, 

If you refer back to my example above 

Les enfants sont dans la voiture The children are in the car 

so

Il est dans la voiture He is in the car

would be correct for he is inside the car.

If you said -

Les enfants et Marcel vont à la plage en voiture = The children and Marcel are going to the beach by car

This would highlight the fact that they drove there just as :

Il est en voiture = He is ( travelling) by car = He is driving

Hope this helps!

Use of EN and not DANS in the 'Transport' section above.

In he lessson: 'Monter can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning', the following example is given that uses EN not DANS.

Nous sommes tous montés EN voiture.

Could you please explain why DANS is not used as the 'Transport' section above states that DANS should be used.

Thank you.

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