ARTICLE / L’ARTICLE

An article is a small word (such as a, an, the) that qualifies a noun.French articles agree in number and gender with the noun they accompany.

 

DEFINITE ARTICLE / L’ARTICLE DEFINI

Thedefinite articlecorresponds to the; it is used when the speaker can identify the noun that follows.

		Singular				Plural
		Before consonant		Before vowel
Masculine		lele garcon		I'I'avocat		lesles garçons, les avocats
Feminine		lala fille		I'I'idée		lesles titles, les idées

1. Do not omit the definite article in a series of nouns: Le crayon, le carnet, la lettre et I'enveloppe sont tous sur la table.

2. Use with scholastic subjects, except with languages after parlerand en:J'étudie le français; je parle anglais; je rêve en grec.

3. Use to express general ideas, feelings, or happenings: La vie est dure.(Life is hard.) J'aime les chiens.(I like dogs.)

4. Use with days of the week to express regular events: Elle va au centre commercial le vendredi.(She goes to themail on Fridays.) vs. Elle va au concert vendredi.(She's going to the concert [this] Friday.)

5. Use with certain expressions of weight and measure to express a(n) or per: Ça coute 20 francs la bouteille.(That costs 20 francs a bottle.)

6. The definite article sometimes contracts when preceded by àor de:

		Article		à + article		de + article
Masculine singular		lele garcon		auau garçon		dudu garçon
Feminine singular		lala fille		à laà la fille		de lade la fille
Before vowel singular		1'I'oncle (m) I'ombre (f)		à1'à I'oncle à I'ombre		de 1'de I'oncle de I'ombre
Plural		lesles garçons les filles		auxaux garçons filles		desdes garçons aux des filles

 

INDEFINITE ARTICLE / L’ARTICLE INDÉFINI

Theindefinite articlecorresponds to a(n) and to some in the sense of "a few." It is used when referring to one or several of a group without specifying which one(s).

		Singular		Plural
Masculine		ununami		desdes amis
Feminine		uneune amie		desdes amies

1. Omit before an unmodified nationality or profession: Il est peintre.(He is a painter.) vs. C'est un excellent peintre.(He is an excellent painter.)

2. Omit in an exclamation following quel(le)(s): Quelle belle journée!(What a beautiful day!)

3. Omit before centand mille: J'aifait ça cent fois.

4. Change to debefore a direct object of a negative statement: J'ai un crayon. → Je n'ai pas de crayons.(I don't have [any] pencils.)

 

PARTITIVE ARTICLE /L’ARTICLE PARTITIF

1. The partitive article consists of de+ definite article; it contracts as above to du, de la, de l', des.

2. Use to express some or any. ll a du chocolat, de la glace, et des fruits.[He has some chocolate, some ice cream and some fruit.) As-tu des assiettes?[Do you have any plates?)

3. Use with bien(much, many); encore(some more); la majorité(the majority) la plupart(most); Encore de la viande!(More meat!). La plupart des enfants sont mignons.(Most children are cute.)

4. When an adjective precedes the noun, just use de: de bon vin, de grands idiots.