Je suis monté à cheval.

Dragana E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Je suis monté à cheval.

Why is it just à and not à + le = au

Je suis monté au cheval.

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Dragana,

Monter à cheval ‘ is, to ride a horse.

‘Monter en voiture’ is, 'to get into a car’. 

I suppose the emphasis is more on the mode of transport than the action.

Hope this helps!

Dragana E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Ok. so the expression "Monter à cheval" - is a fixed expression for mode of transport. BUT 

I can say "J'ai approché au cheval - I approached the horse"?

Is that right?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Dragana,

In the case of getting near the horse you would say-

‘Je me suis approchée du cheval’ because the verb is

‘s’approcher de’ 

and 

de + le= du

Not easy I know....

Leah R.A0Kwiziq community member

I've seen this phrase used idiomatically (in a French newspaper) where "monté à cheval" was used to mean "get into a car" -- I knew what it meant literally and guessed the slang interpretation as based on analogy or synonym, without realizing the shade of difference that was being called upon.

Je suis monté à cheval.

Why is it just à and not à + le = au

Je suis monté au cheval.

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