Why is "dessus" not mentioned? Doesn't it mean "on top of"?

Kathleen B.A2Kwiziq community member

Why is "dessus" not mentioned? Doesn't it mean "on top of"?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Kathleen, 

The word ‘ dessus’ can be an adverb ( or a masculine noun) and doesn’t belong in this classification. 

It actually means on top of something : 

Je t’ai déjà dit que ton porte-monnaie était sur sur la table = I already told you your wallet was on top of the table 

Je t’ai déjà dit qu’il était dessus = i already told you it was on top of it

Bonne Continuation!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I would actually translate sur with "on": two objects which touch each other, one being "on" the other:

Le verre se trouve sur la table. -- The glass is on the table.

And, as you propose, dessus would be "on top of". "Above" (overhead) would be au-dessus. Mostly, however, dessous and dessus are used as adverbs, as in:

Voici la table. Mettez votre verre dessus. -- Here's the table. Put your glass on it ("on top").

Then there are certain combinations of dessus, like au-dessus:

Le verre se trouve sur l'étagère au-dessus de la table. -- The glass is on the shelf above the table.

Here is a nice summary: https://www.thoughtco.com/dessus-and-dessous-1368833

Why is "dessus" not mentioned? Doesn't it mean "on top of"?

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