Hi Lianda,
You would say "J'habite au Cap-Occidental en Afrique du Sud."
Look at these questions:
Informal/singular questions:
Où habites-tu ?
Where do you live?
Tu habites où ?
Where do you live?
Formal/plural questions:
Note that there are different ways to ask a question in French.
Now look at these answers:
To say which city you live in in French, you can use the verb habiter (to live [somewhere]) as such:
J'habite à + [city]
Note that je (= I) becomes j' in front of the mute h of habite.
See also Je becomes j' with verbs beginning with a vowel (elision)
See more complex cases in Using 'à' (to/in) and 'de' (from/of) with cities (prepositions)
See also the more advanced lesson on how to conjugate all six forms of habiter in Le Présent:
Conjugate regular -er verbs in Le Présent (present tense)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Où habitez-vous ?
Where do you live?
J'habite à Paris.
I live in Paris.
Où habites-tu ?
Where do you live?
Vous habitez où ?
Where do you live?
J'habite à Hambourg.
I live in Hamburg.
J'habite à Lille.
I live in Lille.
J'habite à Atlanta.
I live in Atlanta.
Tu habites où ?
Where do you live?
J'habite à Londres.
I live in London.
Q&A Forum 91 questions, 151 answers
MarieKwiziq language super star
Hi Swastik,
We say "au" as the name of this place is "Le Cap-Occidental". "Au" is the contraction of "à" + "le".
You can get more information here: À + le = au, à + les = aux, de + le = du, de + les = des (contractions of articles)
Hope this helps!
Marie
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Merci beaucoup, Cécile.
Je suis très nouveau pour parler Français.
By the way, do you know of any links that discusses the appropriate use of the verb “are”?
I get confused about how and when to use sont, sommes, ètre, ect..
I wish to learn the difference.
CécileKwiziq language super star
Hi O,
The verb to be is être in French.
Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson -
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-etre-in-le-present-present-tense
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Kiragu !
To express the general sentence "I live in a city" in French, you'll say:
J'habite dans une ville.
Bonne journée !
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Hi William,
It would be simply -
'J'habite dans une (grande) ville'.
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ChrisCorrect answer
J'habite à Toronto au Canada.
Canada ist masculine and therefore uses au. You can find more on this here:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
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According to my native French language consultants (i.e., French friends) you can hear a number of different ways to express "I live in Paris", each with a slightly different meaning:
J'habite Paris. -- I am a citizen of Paris.
J'habite à Paris. -- I live in Paris. (A general statement)
J'habite dans Paris. -- I live right in Paris (probably somewhere near the center)
J'habite sur Paris. -- I live by Paris (in the greater urban area but not right in Paris)
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Does habiter need a prepositionÉ
In my book 501 French verbs it teaches that the verb habiter doesn't require a preposition so, J'habite cette maison, is acceptable.
Is "J'habite à [city] an exception? Is "J'habite [city]" acceptable?
Is "J'habite à [city] an exception? Is "J'habite [city]" acceptable?
Asked 9 months ago
TomCorrect answer
Both "J'habite à [city]" and "J'habite [city]" are acceptable, although nowadays I seem to hear more of the former than the latter.
tom
Sorry for the error in the title (forgot which keyboard I was using!) Does habiter need a preposition?
Christopher asked:View original
Does habiter need a prepositionÉ
In my book 501 French verbs it teaches that the verb habiter doesn't require a preposition so, J'habite cette maison, is acceptable.
Is "J'habite à [city] an exception? Is "J'habite [city]" acceptable?
Is "J'habite à [city] an exception? Is "J'habite [city]" acceptable?
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Hi Simra,
"J'habite en Amérique" is the correct sentence.
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Hi Abishanka,
J'habite à Bangalore en Inde.
is correct.
Abishanka asked:View original
If I from Bangalore, India then I would say, "J'habite à Bangalore, en Inde" ?
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So if I'm from Chicago Illinois in the United States I would say "J'habite à Chicago, dans l'Illinois, aux États Unis."?
Asked 10 months ago
CécileKwiziq language super star
Hi Eve,
I would say 'dans l'Illinois' sounds really nice, it's a bit like 'dans le Yorkshire' here in England...
Eve asked:View original
So if I'm from Chicago Illinois in the United States I would say "J'habite à Chicago, dans l'Illinois, aux États Unis."?
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Hi Rana,
It would be -
J'habite au Caire, en Egypte.
as Cairo is Le Caire in French.
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Es and ez
Why is there a difference : tu habites and habitez- vous. Es in ending of habitate in tu and ez in vous?
Asked 11 months ago
ChrisCorrect answer
It is because in English (and most indo-european languages) the verb changes according to the subjects person. Tu is second person singular and vous is second person plural. Verb endings differ. You ask why this is so? Simply because.
Anushree asked:View original
Es and ez
Why is there a difference : tu habites and habitez- vous. Es in ending of habitate in tu and ez in vous?
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Lesley !
"Je vis dans Perth" would mean something different as it insists on the fact that you live inside the city, in the center of it, as opposed to in its suburbs, or just outside of it. And even then, you'd rather use "J'habite dans Perth.".
Bonne journée !
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Bonjour Rita !
Here is a link to our related lessons on states and countries in French:
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/prepositions-with-regions-states-counties
You would say: J'habite dans l'Oklahoma / en Oklahoma, aux États-Unis.
I hope that's helpful!
Bonne journée !
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Hi ... does this same (use of 'à) rule apply to towns and villages as well as cities?
Asked 1 year ago
Hi Stewart,
Yes indeed as Ron says, the rules will be the same for towns and villages.
You will use 'à ' or in the case of masculine names ´au' and
'aux' for plural names.
Just a few examples of these:
j'habite à Gordes, j'habite au Chesnay ( Le Chesnay ), j'habite au Pecq (Le Pecq) , j'habite aux Baux de Provence (les Baux de Provence)...
Hope this helps!
Bonjour Stewart,
In a word, yes; the same rule applies for cities, towns and villages. This is a basic structure to discuss where one lives. As you progress, there will be other locales, i.e. regions, departments, etc. where the preposition changes. This lesson here is at the A0 level, hence the basic : J'habite à. . . structure. When one gets into the A1 level, you will find a different structure for stating certain areas where one lives.
J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait.
Stewart asked:View original
Hi ... does this same (use of 'à) rule apply to towns and villages as well as cities?
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RonCorrect answer
Bonjour Amanda,
The lesson this relates to is the level A0. If you are testing at a different level, the instructions are the same:
1) go to your dashboard
2) scroll down to the area marked «CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE»
3) click on the «TEST NOW» button to the right of the level you want to test in, i.e. A0, A1, A2, etc.
J'espère que ma réponse vous aidera.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet
LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Amanda,
The CEFR level test is only available once, when you first sign up for Kwiziq. Now that you've done that, KwizBot has created your personalized Studyplan, which you can find on your Dasbhoard. https://french.kwiziq.com
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Bonjour Mary !
Here's a link to our FAQ section on how to type accents :)
https://french.kwiziq.com/faqs#span_id_accents_span_How_can_I_type_accents
Bonne journée !
Bonjour Stephen,
I just completed the same Micro-Quiz with the question about Atlanta «J'habite à Atlanta» and it was marked as correct. This certainly leaves me puzzled why your response would have been marked incorrect.
Bonne chance,
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Stephen !
You seem to have forgotten the accent on "J'habite à Atlanta."
In French, the word a (without accent) is the verb avoir in Le Présent : he/she/it has, whereas à is a preposition = in/to. :)
Bonne journée !
You seem to have forgotten the accent on "J'habite à Atlanta."
In French, the word a (without accent) is the verb avoir in Le Présent : he/she/it has, whereas à is a preposition = in/to. :)
Bonne journée !
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In French, to say which city you live in, you use J'habite à + the city.
So, the correct answer should be
J'habite à Virginie
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Bonjour Cynthia !
First of all, you need to know that Qatar is a masculine country in French, so you will say:
J'habite au Qatar.
See: Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
Secondly, from your name, I assume you are a woman, so your nationality will have to agree accordingly:
Je suis kenyane.
See: Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
First of all, you need to know that Qatar is a masculine country in French, so you will say:
J'habite au Qatar.
See: Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)">Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
Secondly, from your name, I assume you are a woman, so your nationality will have to agree accordingly:
Je suis kenyane.
See: Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)">Nationalities differ depending on whether you're a man or a woman (adjectives)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Rick !
In French, you would use the verb "loger" (literally to lodge) or simply "dormir" (to sleep), as such:
"Où est-ce que vous logez/dormez ?"
"Vous logez/dormez où ?"
"Où logez/dormez-vous ?"
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Anagha !
You would say either "J'habite en Inde." or "Je vis en Inde."
Have a look at our lesson on how to say "in/to" with countries:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
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Pen asked:View original
J'habite à Indianapolis. The city starts with a vowel, so is it still correct?
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I've been told that if the town/city begins with a vowel the 'à' changes to 'en'. Is that right?
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Anne !
I'm afraid you're mixing two different lessons :)
To say "in/to" + city, you always use "à", regardless of spelling.
But it's a different matter when it comes to countries, or regions/states...
Here are links to our related lessons:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
En, dans = In, to with regions, states, counties (prepositions)
I hope it helps!
À bientôt !
Anne asked:View original
I've been told that if the town/city begins with a vowel the 'à' changes to 'en'. Is that right?
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Marna Marie !
Small correction: "J'habite en Afrique du Sud"
See our related lesson:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
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Bonjour! J'habite à Chine. C'est ma première leçon aussi. Enchanté, Aurélie. :-)
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Victor !
Just a small correction: "j'habite en Chine"
-> Indeed you will not use "à" with countries :)
Have a look at our related lesson:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
Bienvenue et à bientôt !
Victor asked:View original
Bonjour! J'habite à Chine. C'est ma première leçon aussi. Enchanté, Aurélie. :-)
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Bonjour! J'habite à Singapour, mais je suis Indien.C'est ma première leçon. Merci :-)
Asked 2 years ago
Sampath asked:View original
Bonjour! J'habite à Singapour, mais je suis Indien.C'est ma première leçon. Merci :-)
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Amy !
Just a little correction here:
"au nord-est de l'Italie"
See our related lesson:
Using le, la, l', les with continents, countries & regions names (definite articles)
I hope that's helpful!
Bonne Année !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Zsuzsanna !
J'habite à Londres, mais je suis française. D'où viens-tu en Hongrie ?
Je viens d'Hernàd. C'est un petit village à peu de distance de Budapest. Et vous? D'où venez-vous en France?
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Je viens de Gallardon, un petit village près de Chartres, dans le centre de la France :)
Chartres est connu pour sa magnifique cathédrale !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Terri !
Moi, j'habite à Londres, en Angleterre, mais je suis française :)
Laramie, c'est dans quel État des États-Unis ?
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Rafael asked:View original
J'habite à Rio de Janeiro, au Brèsil.
J'habite à Rio de Janeiro, au Brèsil.
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Ei !
The first part of your sentence is perfect, however "Birmanie" being a feminine country in French, you will say "EN Birmanie", not "au" :)
Have a look at this lesson:
Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
À bientôt !
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Júnior,
Très bien ! Moi, j'habite à Bouillante, en Guadeloupe.
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Nguher,
Pas mal ! Mais capitale manque la dernière lettre : la capitale.
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Stanley,
Good, but don't forget the accent: J'habite à Philadelphia.
https://french.kwiziq.com/blog/best-way-type-french-accents-windows-linux/
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Judi !
Almost perfect sentence! Sydney being a city, you will need to use "à Sydney".
To avoid the repetition, you could use for the neighborhood of Kensington "dans le quartier de Kensington":
"J'habite dans le quartier de Kensington, à Sydney, en Australie."
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Hoyt !
Great sentence, just two tiny mistakes here: "en Amérique du sud", and "aux États-Unis".
Have a look at our related lesson: https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/use-en-with-feminine-countries-and-aux-with-masculine-countries-to-say-in-or-to-prepositions
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Sophia !
"Charlotte" being a city (unless it's not, let me know), you will need to use "à" and not "en", as such:
"J'habite à Charlotte."
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Sophia ! "Charlotte" being a city, you will need to use "à" and not "au", as such: "J'habite à Charlotte." À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Maja !
Stockholm being a city, you will need to use "à" and not "au", as such:
"J'habite à Stockholm."
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Scott !
"J'habite à Perth" is correct if you're talking about a city, however to say "in Australia", you'll say: "en Australie".
See the related lesson: Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Alex !
Super ! Moi, j'habite à Londres, dans le sud de l'Angleterre !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Te'Aannie !
Et tu habites dans quel pays ?
See https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/use-en-with-feminine-countries-and-aux-with-masculine-countries-to-say-in-or-to-prepositions
À bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Peter !
Here is one of our blog posts which should hopefully help you find out how to type accents and French characters more easily:
https://french.kwiziq.com/blog/best-way-type-french-accents-windows-linux/
A bientôt !
Bonjour Peter,
Ma fille m'a dit, "hold down the letter key a little longer and the french accents will display. J'ai un mac et pour moi, c'est marche bien.
Bonjour Peter,
Ma fille m'a dit, "hold down the letter key a little longer and the french accents will display. J'ai un mac et pour moi, c'est marche bien.
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Peter,
Well done, only minor niggles:
J'habite à Londres, j'habite en Angleterre.
A bientôt !
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Daniela,
Très bien ! Juste deux petites corrections : au Brésil. Voici notre leçon sur les pays : Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
Moi, j'habite à Bouillante en Guadeloupe.
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J'habite a West Orange dans New Jersey aux Etats-Unis.
I don't know how to add accents on my computer. Please help me with that, if you can. Merci beaucoup!
Asked 3 years ago
LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Jamee,
Very good! Other than the accents, you just forgot the article in front of the state: "dans le New Jersey."
Here are instructions for typing accents in Windows and Linux: https://french.kwiziq.com/blog/best-way-type-french-accents-windows-linux/
Jamee asked:View original
J'habite a West Orange dans New Jersey aux Etats-Unis.
I don't know how to add accents on my computer. Please help me with that, if you can. Merci beaucoup!
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Luong,
Since Corée du Sud is a country, not a city, you need a different preposition: en Corée du Sud. See our lesson: Using en with feminine countries and au(x) with masculine countries to say in or to (prepositions)
In comparison, you can say J'habite à Seoul.
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour JB,
Hokkaido, c'est dans quel pays ?
J'habite à Bouillante, en Guadeloupe.
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J'habite à Toronto dans Canada.
Is dans correct and does it matter if city or country goes first?
Asked 3 years ago
This is a really sticky one. Part of the problem is learning the gender of all the world's countries. But there are some tricks.
With some exceptions (le Belize, le Cambodge, le Mexique, le Mozambique, le Zaïre, le Zimbabwe) all countries that end in "e" are feminine. The rest are masculine.
If a country is masculine and starts with a consonant, use:
au (to or in) du (from
If a country is masculine and starts with a vowel, use:
en (to or in) d' (from)
If a country is feminine, use:
en (to or in) de / d' (from)
If a country is plural, use:
aux (to or in) des (from)
You can forget "dans" with a country. And the city and country can come in either order, as long as the prepositions are correct. Good luck!
So the correct form would be J'habite à Toronto au Canada? And J'habite au Canada à Toronto would also be correct?
Yes. But with a city like Toronto or New York (where I live) there's really no need to say the country. So you're off the hook!
Bonus tip: if you're a native of a city or country, you can use the adjective form of that country or city plus "de souche."
"Je suis New Yorkais de souche."
"Je suis français de souche."
Christian asked:View original
J'habite à Toronto dans Canada.
Is dans correct and does it matter if city or country goes first?
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Amanda !
J'habite au Royaume-Uni, à Londres. Dans quelle ville habites-tu aux États-Unis ?
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Sharon !
Australia in French is "Australie" and it is a feminine country.
Have a look at how to say "in + country" in French:
A bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Tani,
The way to say this is "J'habite en Inde."
Où habites-tu en Inde ? :)
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Lisa,
Très bien ! Deux petites corrections :
J'habite à Corona del Mar en Californie.
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Patty,
Almost, your spacing and accent are messed up: J'habite à Portland aux États-Unis.
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Mael,
Waouh ! Taïwan, c'est très exotique ! Moi, j'habite à Londres ... c'est plus ennuyeux ;)
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Lorraine,
Très bien ! But don't forget to capitalize the city: J'habite à Toronto.
Moi, j'habite à Bouillante.
Bonne journée !
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Lorraine !
Le Canada, quel beau pays ! Moi, j'habite à Londres, en Angleterre.
A bientôt !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
La Floride en français ;)
"J'habite à Jacksonville en Floride, aux États-Unis."
Moi j'habite à Londres en Angleterre !
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Hello Hira,
Pakistan is a masculine country, therefore you need to use "au" as such:
"J'habite au Pakistan."
Have a look at the matching lesson:
https://www.french-test.com/revision/grammar/use-en-with-feminine-countries-and-aux-with-masculine-countries-to-say-in-or-to-prepositions
Hope it's helpful !
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Kristina,
Very good! But please don't forget the accent: j'habite à Edmonton.
https://www.french-test.com/blog/best-way-type-french-accents-windows-linux/
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Tu habites à Sydney, en Australie ? Super !
J'habite à Londres, en Angleterre, mais je viens de France !
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Diana,
In French, I live in Italy = J'habite en Italie.
Here's our lesson on how to say "live in" + country: https://www.french-test.com/my-languages/french/view/203
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LauraKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Jennifer !
Presque parfait, il ne faut pas oublier de mettre la ville en masjuscule, comme en anglais : Londres / London. :-)
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