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Lesson 26 of 240

New here? This is lesson 26 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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In front, behind, beside in French

Sam is at Café des Tilleuls, looking for Gaspard. He checks under the table, then behind a chair.

The yak is already beside him, using two chairs, café crème still full.

By the end, you'll say where something is: in front, behind, next to, under, between, or outside.

Odile helps from the counter. The window table stays empty.

By the end of this lesson

Say where one thing is in relation to another.

  • C'est devant.It's in front.
  • C'est derrière.It's behind.
  • C'est à côté de ___.It's next to ___.
  • C'est sous ___.It's under ___.
  • C'est entre les deux.It's between the two.
  • C'est dehors.It's outside.

Scene — two chairs

Morning at Café des Tilleuls. Sam stands by Gaspard's two chairs. The café crème is still full.

The window table keeps its blank brass sign. Odile watches from the zinc counter as Sam looks under the table.

A wide morning view of Café des Tilleuls with Gaspard on a pair of chairs, a full café crème, Sam looking under the table, and Odile watching from the zinc.

Learn — in front and behind

Six short lines say where a thing is: in front, behind, next to, under, between, or outside.

You'll point to a chair, a table, and the door with the same start.

  1. A close-up of the full café crème sitting in front of Gaspard as Odile points at the cup.

    C'est devant.

    It's in front.

    When to use it: Say this when a thing is in front.

    Learn it as one piece for in front.

    Say it: The ant in devant is a nasal sound.

  2. A profile of Gaspard twisted on a pair of chairs to look behind, where a coat hangs on a bentwood chair.

    C'est derrière.

    It's behind.

    When to use it: Say this when a thing is behind.

    Learn it as one piece for behind.

  3. From behind Gaspard's shoulder, Sam stands by the chairs with a bag on the extra chair next to Sam.

    C'est à côté de ___.

    It's next to ___.

    When to use it: Name what a thing sits next to with this.

    Learn it as one piece for next to something.

  4. A low view from the floor of Sam lifting the tablecloth to reveal a croissant under the table beside Gaspard's chairs.

    C'est sous ___.

    It's under ___.

    When to use it: Say this when a thing is under something.

    Learn it as one piece for under something.

    Say it: The last s in sous is silent.

  5. A high view of Gaspard setting a croissant between a pair of cups on the table.

    C'est entre les deux.

    It's between the two.

    When to use it: Say this when a thing sits between two others.

    Learn it as one piece for between two things.

    Say it: The en in entre is a nasal sound.

  6. Odile stands in the café doorway pointing out at a backpack on a sunlit terrace chair.

    C'est dehors.

    It's outside.

    When to use it: Say this when a thing is outside.

    Learn it as one piece for outside.

    Say it: The last s in dehors is silent.

Story — under the table

Watch Sam hunt for Gaspard at the café. He looks in the wrong places first.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Sam stands by two chairs and looks around.
  2. OdileOù est Gaspard ?Where is Gaspard?
  3. SamJe ne sais pas.I don't know.
  4. He lifts the tablecloth. A croissant lies on the floor.
  5. OdileC'est sous la table.It's under the table.
  6. He checks behind a bentwood chair. A coat hangs there.
  7. OdileC'est derrière.It's behind.
  8. The yak on two chairs leans in. He was there the whole time. The window table stays empty.
  9. GaspardBonjour.Hello.
  10. SamBonjour.Hello.
  11. Sam's bag sits on the extra chair.
  12. GaspardLe sac ? C'est à côté de toi.The bag? It's next to you.
  13. He sets the croissant between two cups.
  14. GaspardC'est entre les deux.It's between the two.
  15. Odile nods at the café crème in front of Gaspard.
  16. OdileC'est devant.It's in front.
  17. Sam's mustard backpack sits on a terrace chair.
  18. OdileC'est dehors.It's outside.

Practice — where is it

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    C'est devant.Drop the English here
    C'est derrière.Drop the English here
    C'est entre les deux.Drop the English here
    C'est dehors.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    The bag sits beside you

  4. Fill the gap

    It's between the two.

    C'est ____ les deux.

  5. What does it mean?

    C'est dehors.

  6. Swap the word

    The jacket is behind the chair, not in front.

    C'est ____.

  7. Build the line

    It's between the two.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    A croissant is under the table. Use the under line and put la table in the blank.

  9. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Où est Gaspard ?

    Where is Gaspard?

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    You walk into Café des Tilleuls in the morning. Odile looks at you and waits.

Say it — say where it is

Now you're Sam at the café, placing things in the room. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileOù est le croissant ?Where is the croissant?
  2. Sam (you)It sits on the table, toward you.

    C'est devant.

    It's in front.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
C'est devant.It's in front.
C'est derrière.It's behind.
C'est à côté de ___.It's next to ___.
C'est sous ___.It's under ___.
C'est entre les deux.It's between the two.
C'est dehors.It's outside.
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps in front and behind ready.

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