Dans un magasin vs. au magasin?

Thalia C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Dans un magasin vs. au magasin?

Dans cette phrase, "Alors, nous sommes allées dans un magasin...", pourquoi est-ce qu'on écrit "dans un magasin" et pas "au magasin"?
Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi T, 

It is the difference between -

... so we went to a shop = ... alors, nous sommes allées dans un magasin

and 

... so we went to the shop = ... alors, nous sommes allées au magasin

Hope this helps!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I don't know about all of the text that you are querying, but this is a matter of "specific" versus "non specific"

Un magasin -- non specific. Au magasin -- specific.  I imagine that the shop or store was previously referred to therefore au magasin (at the store / shop) as opposed to a store in a general sense.

Hope this helps.

Alan (Jim)

Thalia C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Merci Jim et Cécile! 

Dans un magasin vs. au magasin?

Dans cette phrase, "Alors, nous sommes allées dans un magasin...", pourquoi est-ce qu'on écrit "dans un magasin" et pas "au magasin"?

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