"en face" v. "d'en face"

[alan gould]

"en face de" is clear.  Would appreciate seeing the distinction between "en face" and "d'en face" s.v.p.    

[Davenne Marc]

en face de .. : in front of

d'en face : from accross literaly

La maison d'en face : the opposite house

[alan gould]

my confusion stems from my belief that there are times "en face" (without "de" after) is used rather than "d'en face."  Also, anything in front of me is opposite me.             

[Charles D]

My interpretation of what Davenne wrote above is:

La maison est en face = The house is opposite (as in 'across' the way)

La maison d'en face est blanche = the house opposite (or the house across the way) is white.

[Davenne Marc]

There was a british 1917 movie named "The house opposite". Is there a difference with "The opposite house" ?

[alan gould]

there's no difference in meaning and it wouldn't sound wrong if you used the latter, but the former is what most people will use.  

[Davenne Marc]

well in French you cannot always use one for the other.See that example :

- où est la maison ?

- en face (d'en face is wrong here) 

- de quelle maison me parlez-vous ?

- de celle d'en face (en face is alright )

So I would say:  

 - use 'd'en face' with the noun : la maison d'en face, le gars d'en face... (using en face is not so wrong, we could use it when we talk but it does not mean it is correct)

 - after the verb change for 'en face' : il est en face, la maison est en face, je vais en face,

 -  use 'en face' when it is said alone to express the point, the location like in the example above.

 - finally use 'en face' when it has the meaning of 'in front of' : regardais le soleil en face

everydody agrees ?