When do you use instead of in French?

You're asking about the difference between "au lieu de" and "à la place de" in French. While both mean "instead of," they have distinct uses and nuances:

1. "Au lieu de" (instead of)

* Focuses on replacement: It emphasizes that something is being done or used in place of another.

* Used for actions, activities, or objects:

* "J'ai mangé une salade au lieu de pizza." (I ate a salad instead of pizza.)

* "Je vais prendre le bus au lieu de la voiture." (I'm going to take the bus instead of the car.)

* Can be followed by a verb or noun:

* "Au lieu de dormir, je vais lire." (Instead of sleeping, I'm going to read.)

* "Au lieu de pain, j'ai pris des crackers." (Instead of bread, I had crackers.)

2. "À la place de" (in place of)

* Focuses on substitution: It emphasizes that one thing is being replaced by another.

* Primarily used for people or positions:

* "Paul est venu à la place de Marie." (Paul came in place of Marie.)

* "Elle a pris ma place de directrice." (She took my place as director.)

* Can be followed by a noun or pronoun:

* "Je vais à la place de mon frère." (I'm going in place of my brother.)

* "À la place de toi, je ne le ferais pas." (In your place, I wouldn't do it.)

In summary:

* Use "au lieu de" when you want to emphasize a replacement of actions, activities, or objects.

* Use "à la place de" when you want to emphasize a substitution of people or positions.

Here are some examples to help you understand the difference:

* Au lieu de : "Au lieu de regarder la télévision, je vais lire un livre." (Instead of watching television, I'm going to read a book.)

* À la place de : "Il va à la place de son père au meeting." (He's going in place of his father to the meeting.)

Keep in mind that these two expressions are often interchangeable, especially in informal speech. However, it's good to be aware of their nuances to express your meaning precisely in formal contexts.