I can’t submit my answer on the first question of this mini quiz.
To express an interval (from ... to ...) in French, you will use either de ... à ... or the contracted form du ... au ... (de + le ... à + le ...) depending on what follows.
1 - du ... au ... (literally: from the ... to the ...) is used when the definite article le is normally present in French:
- between two dates
Le festival dure du 24 juillet au 5 août.The festival lasts from the 24th of July to the 5th of August.
Note that, like for dates in general, you don't use ordinal numbers (except for 1st: premier) and you don't need the of in front of the month.
See Expressing dates in French
- between two days of the week in a repetitive context (e.g. from Mondays to Fridays):
Cet athlète s'entraîne du lundi au samedi, toutes les semaines.This athlete trains from Mondays to Saturdays, every week.
Note that you use the singular form of the day. You never say des lundis aux vendredis
See Using le with days of the week + weekend
2 - de ... à ... (literally: from ... to ...) is used in cases where le is not present in French:
- between two times:
See Telling time in French - simple
- between two months:
- between two days of the week in a one-time, specific context (e.g. from Monday to Friday):
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 7 questions, 14 answers
Hi Johanna,
Will let someone know but just to remind you that this is a forum for language and culture questions , any other queries should be submitted via the Help & Support feature.
Johanna asked:View original
Missing submit button
I can’t submit my answer on the first question of this mini quiz.
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JackKwiziq community member
Time bewteen two dates
There is a question out there concerning two dates. The given answer is 'du quatre au sept'. Would 'du 4 au 7' be equally correct? If not, what is the difference?
Asked 2 months ago
Hi Jack,
Yes, but I suspect there is a hint telling you to write numbers in letter form rather than figures which is considerably harder...
Hope this helps!
Jack asked:View original
Time bewteen two dates
There is a question out there concerning two dates. The given answer is 'du quatre au sept'. Would 'du 4 au 7' be equally correct? If not, what is the difference?
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Kwiziq community member
The question was “from the tenth to the twentieth of”. The answer said “diz”, not ‘dix’. Please explain. Thanks.
Asked 11 months ago
Hi Terry,
If I understand your question correctly, you are querying the pronunciation of 'dix' (No. 10) ?
It is more of a 'sss' sound unless there is a liaison and it will be a 'z' sound...
The number 10 on its own is pronounced, 'Dissss'.
Il a di -Z- ans = He is ten years old
Hope this helps!
Kwiziq community member
Hi. Thank you for your response. Unfortunately it was not a matter of pronunciation. The written answer was actually “diz...” rather than ‘dix...’. It may have been a glitch in the system. If I come across it again I will send it to you.
Terry asked:View original
The question was “from the tenth to the twentieth of”. The answer said “diz”, not ‘dix’. Please explain. Thanks.
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BenKwiziq community member
Quiz question Le bureau de poste est ouvert aujourd'hui ________ onze heures.
The answer given was 'de dix à'.
Why is it not 'de dix heures à' ?
Asked 1 year ago
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Hi Ben,
... de dix à onze heures -- from 10 to 11 o'clock.
... de dix heures à onze heures -- from 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock.
It's just as correct but wordier.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
BarryKwiziq community member
It seems just as correct, but it was ruled incorrect when I answered as such (de dix heures à onze heures). It only accepted "de dix à onze heures" as the correct answer.
Barry
LizKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Is it equally correct to write de deux à deux heures et demie? I was marked wrong for not writing de deux heures. Looks like Chris says either one is OK so I need to If he’s right. Thanks!
LizKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Is it equally correct to write de deux à deux heures et demie? I was marked wrong for not writing de deux heures. Looks like Chris says either one is OK so I need to If he’s right. Thanks!
LizKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Is it equally correct to write de deux à deux heures et demie? I was marked wrong for not writing de deux heures. Looks like Chris says either one is OK so I need to If he’s right. Thanks!
Ben asked:View original
Quiz question Le bureau de poste est ouvert aujourd'hui ________ onze heures.
The answer given was 'de dix à'.
Why is it not 'de dix heures à' ?
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WilliamKwiziq community member
Quiz question 'Je suis en vacances du neuf au treize juillet.'
Shouldn't the quiz question use the de (vs du) form because we're talking about specific dates? It seems unlikely I would have the 9th thru 13th off every year?
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour William !
The lesson explains that you need "du...au..." when the expression would normally use "le", which is the case for dates:
You say "le 9 juillet" or "le 13 juillet", therefore you will use "de + le (du)... à + le (au) ...." with dates.
Have a look at this related lesson:
Expressing dates in French
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
William asked:View original
Quiz question 'Je suis en vacances du neuf au treize juillet.'
Shouldn't the quiz question use the de (vs du) form because we're talking about specific dates? It seems unlikely I would have the 9th thru 13th off every year?
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JayneKwiziq community member
I just dont get the difference between de...à ..and.de..du...they e both used in between dates?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Jayne !
The difference here is between "de...à" (from...to) and the contracted forms "du...au" (from *the*...to *the*).
So with days of the week for example, you use:
- "de...à" for specific days (from Monday to Sunday), because to say "on Monday" in French, you don't use the definite article ("Lundi, je suis allé au marché.").
- "du...au" for general days (from Mondays to Sundays), because you use the definite article when generalising in French ("Le lundi, je vais à la piscine.").
Same issue with dates: you use "du...au" because to express dates in French, you always use the definite article ("le 16 juin 2016").
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Jayne asked:View original
I just dont get the difference between de...à ..and.de..du...they e both used in between dates?
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JoakimKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Month intervals
If you want to specifically say that a museum is open may-october every year as a "repeated occurrence", can you then use "du mai au octobre"?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Joakim !
In the case of months, you will use "de...à..." instead of "du...au...", as follows:
"de mai à octobre"
À bientôt !
Joakim asked:View original
Month intervals
If you want to specifically say that a museum is open may-october every year as a "repeated occurrence", can you then use "du mai au octobre"?
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