en or dans

Question

why can't I say j'habite en or j'habite Dans why does it have to be à

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Sunisha,
Take a look at the links below:
dans vrs à
Bonjour! J'habite Afrique du Sud
En vs Dans with locations (French Prepositions of Location)
 
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Céline Pickard · Answer

Bonjour Mel,
Take a look at the lesson link below:
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/use-en-with-feminine-countries-and-aux-with-masculine-countries-to-say-in-or-to-prepositions
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/prepositions-with-regions-states-counties
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Mel Malone · Answer

Would you not say: j’habite dans les Etats Unis?

Simrat Kaur · Answer

But when do we use en then ? I thought we use en with cities , and paris is city

Céline Pickard · Answer

Bonjour Simrat,
Here are two examples to illustrate this:
-> habiter + à + [cities]:

J'habite à Paris = I live in Paris
J'habite à Montréal = I live in Montreal

-> habiter + en + [feminine countries]:

J'habite en France = I live in France
J'habite en Égypte = I live in Egypt

-> habiter + à + [masculine countries]:

J'habite au Canada = I live in Canada
J'habite aux États-Unis = I live in the USA

Take a look at the links in my previous answers. You should find the answer to your question.
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !