French Articles
Articles can often be omitted in English, but not in French. There are three types of articles: French definite, indefinite, and partitive articles. They have to agree in number and gender with the nouns they modify, and there are simple rules to follow when deciding which type to use.
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French Definite, Indefinite, and Partitive Articles
Articles can often be omitted in English, but not in French. There are three types of articles, and they have to agree in number and gender with the nouns they modify. Each type of article plays a very important role, and it’s important to know how to choose which one to use according to context.
| Definite articles | THE | SPECIFIC | le – la – les |
| Indefinite articles | A / AN | UNSPECIFIC or ONE | un – une |
| Partitive articles | SOME | PORTION OF SOMETHING | du – de la – des – de l’ |
Masculine – Singular Nouns
| le poulet rôti | the roasted chicken |
| un poulet rôti | a roasted chicken |
| du poulet rôti | some roasted chicken |
| Petit Rappel: de + le = du |
| Definite article | J’aime le poulet rôti. | I like roasted chicken. |
| Definite article | Je mange le poulet rôti. | I am eating the roasted chicken. |
| Indefinite article | Je mange un poulet rôti. | I am eating a roasted chicken. |
| Partitive article | Je mange du poulet rôti. | I am eating some roasted chicken. |
Feminine – Singular Nouns
| DEFINITE: la tarte aux noix de pécan | the pecan pie |
| INDEFINITE: une tarte aux noix de pécan | a pecan pie |
| PARTITIVE: de la tarte aux noix de pécan | some pecan pie |
| Definite article | J’aime la tarte aux noix de pécan. | I like pecan pie. |
| Definite article | Je mange la tarte aux noix de pécan. | I am eating the pecan pie. |
| Indefinite article | Je mange une tarte aux noix de pécan. | I am eating a pecan pie. |
| Partitive article | Je mange de la tarte aux noix de pécan. | I am eating some pecan pie. |
Masculine – Feminine Plural Nouns
| les oeufs (l’oeuf) | the eggs |
| des oeufs (un oeuf) | some eggs |
| Remember: de + les form a contraction: des |
| Definite article | J’aime les oeufs. (M) | I like eggs. |
| Definite article | Je mange les oeufs. (M) | I am eating the eggs. |
| Partitive article | Je mange des oeufs. (M) | I am eating (some) eggs. |
| Definite article | J’aime les pêches. (F) | I like peaches. |
| Definite article | Je mange les pêches. (F) | I am eating the peaches. |
| Partitive article | Je mange des pêches. (F) | I am eating (some) peaches. |
Masculine – Feminine nouns beginning with a vowel or mute H
| DEFINITE: l’eau | the water |
| PARTITIVE: de l’eau | some water |
| DEFINITE: l’huile | the oil |
| PARTITIVE: de l’huile | some oil |
| Definite article | J’aime l’eau. | I like water. |
| Partitive article | Je bois de l’eau. | I am drinking (some) water. |
Verbs of Preference Require Definite Articles
| aimer: J’aime les pommes. I like apples. | le – la – les – l’ |
| adorer: J’adore les bananes. I adore bananas | le – la – les – l’ |
| préférer: Je préfère les abricots. I prefer apricots. | le – la – les – l’ |
| détester: Je déteste les fraises. I hate strawberries. | le – la – les – l’ |
