'En' other uses

JosephC1Kwiziq community member

'En' other uses

When 'in' is used in other contexts, apart from physical locations, would 'en' be used?

E.g. En réalité - In reality

Je suis fort en langues vivantes - I am strong in Foreign Languages

En industrie du bâtiment - In the building industry

Ces médicaments sont en sirop - This medication is in (the form of) syrup

Paul est rentré en colère - Paul returned home in Anger

By the way, please correct if wrong, thank you

Asked 5 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Joseph,

Just to correct some of your examples :

Dans l'industrie du bâtiment

Ces médicaments sont sous forme de sirop.

Paul s'est mis en colère

or

Paul est entré dans une colère noire.

and I do agree that 'à', 'de' and 'en'  can be very intuitive but you will get used to them with practice.

Hope this helps!

 

 

RC1Kwiziq community member
I can't help but a dictionary definition of en will help
ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The pronoun "en" is a true chameleon in French because it is used in so many contexts. Basically there are three:

1) "En" used spatially as a more general version of "in/inside".
2) "En" used temporally to state a timeframe within which something happens.
3) "En" used in pronomial phrases to replace an object normally introduced by "de".

There are dedicated lessons for all three uses within kwiziq.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Joseph,

I think you got the general idea. Your examples appear correct to me, although the input of a native speaker would shed even more light on this.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

JosephC1Kwiziq community member

Thank you very much, I feel more reassured now :) I'd say above 'à' and 'de', 'en' has been my trickiest preposition, but I guess it can sink in over time.

Joe, French A-Level Student

'En' other uses

When 'in' is used in other contexts, apart from physical locations, would 'en' be used?

E.g. En réalité - In reality

Je suis fort en langues vivantes - I am strong in Foreign Languages

En industrie du bâtiment - In the building industry

Ces médicaments sont en sirop - This medication is in (the form of) syrup

Paul est rentré en colère - Paul returned home in Anger

By the way, please correct if wrong, thank you

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