How to use dans and en with locations in French
Dans (+ un/une, le/la/l'/les, des) and en are both used to mean inside/in with respect to locations like town or class.
Note that the meaning changes slightly:
- dans + [article] + [noun] is used to refer to an actual, physical place = in the/a/his ...
- en + [noun] is used to refer more to a general, abstract, symbolic place = in ...
- en + [noun] is used to refer more to a general, abstract, symbolic place = in ...
Cases with streets, roads...
When referring to the street, road, avenue, or boulevard people live on (using habiter), you can either use dans la/le, simply la/le or nothing at all.
BUT you can NEVER use sur (i.e. on) in that context!
Avec être (to be) or vivre (to live), you can use either dans la/le OR nothing at all.
ATTENTION: Case of avenue
You can use sur l'avenue when used with se promener (to have a walk).
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