à l'abri de

Practice it Notes & Tips

§ Mistakes with "à l'abri de"

Learning a new language means making mistakes, and that's totally fine! The important thing is to understand why certain mistakes happen so you can avoid them in the future. The French phrase "à l'abri de" can be a bit tricky because its literal translation doesn't always line up perfectly with how we say "sheltered from" or "safe from" in English. Let's break down some common errors and how to fix them.

§ Mistake 1: Forgetting the "de"

One of the most common mistakes is dropping the "de" part of the phrase. "À l'abri" on its own means "sheltered" or "in shelter," but it doesn't specify *from what*. You need "de" to introduce what you are being sheltered or safe from.

Incorrect: Nous sommes à l'abri la pluie. (We are sheltered the rain.)

Correct: Nous sommes à l'abri de la pluie. (We are sheltered from the rain.)

§ Mistake 2: Confusing with "loin de" (far from)

Sometimes learners mistakenly use "loin de" (far from) when they mean "safe from." While being far from something can make you safe, the phrases aren't interchangeable. "À l'abri de" implies protection or shelter, not just distance.

Incorrect: Les enfants sont loin des dangers. (The children are far from dangers.) - *Technically grammatically correct, but doesn't convey 'safe from' in the same way as being protected.*

Correct: Les enfants sont à l'abri des dangers. (The children are safe from dangers.)

§ Mistake 3: Incorrect article after "de"

Remember your contractions! When "de" is followed by a definite article (le, la, les), it often contracts. This is a common point of confusion for many learners.

The rules for contractions are:

de + le = du
de + les = des
de + la = de la (no contraction)
de + l' = de l' (no contraction)

Incorrect: Nous avons mis les documents à l'abri de le vent. (We put the documents safe from the wind.)

Correct: Nous avons mis les documents à l'abri du vent. (We put the documents safe from the wind.)

Incorrect: Elle veut être à l'abri de les regards indiscrets. (She wants to be safe from prying eyes.)

Correct: Elle veut être à l'abri des regards indiscrets. (She wants to be safe from prying eyes.)

§ Mistake 4: Using "de" twice when a noun is already preceded by an article

This isn't really a mistake with "à l'abri de" itself, but a general rule about "de" that often trips up learners. If the noun following "à l'abri de" is already preceded by a possessive adjective (mon, ma, mes, etc.), a demonstrative adjective (ce, cette, ces), or another specific article, you don't repeat "de" before that article.

Incorrect: Nous sommes à l'abri de nos ennemis. (We are safe from our enemies.)

Correct: Nous sommes à l'abri de nos ennemis. (We are safe from our enemies.)

By being aware of these common pitfalls, you can use "à l'abri de" with much more confidence and accuracy. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!

How to Use It

Use à l'abri de to talk about being physically sheltered from something, like bad weather. For example, Nous sommes à l'abri du vent derrière ce mur. (We are sheltered from the wind behind this wall.) You can also use it to mean safe or protected from something less tangible, like danger or harm. For instance, Les enfants sont à l'abri du danger à la maison. (The children are safe from danger at home.)

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse à l'abri de with simply being 'away from' something. While there's an element of distance, the core meaning is protection or shelter. Don't use it if you just mean 'away from.' For example, if you want to say 'I'm away from work,' you wouldn't use à l'abri du travail, you'd use something like Je suis loin du travail or Je ne suis pas au travail. Another mistake is forgetting the preposition 'de' after 'abri'. It's always 'à l'abri de' not just 'à l'abri'.

Test Yourself 6 questions

listening B2

The mountaineers took shelter from the storm in a small cabin.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Les alpinistes se sont mis à l'abri de la tempête dans une petite cabane.