Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article-in-noun-constructions-linked-by-de
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French Grammar – Omission of the article in noun constructions linked by de
The article is frequently omitted before the second noun in noun + noun constructions linked by de, where the second noun functions like an adjective (and is often translated into English as an adjective):
French | English |
---|---|
une ambassade de France | a French embassy |
une carte de visite | a visiting card |
une carte de France | a map of France |
un billet de bus | a bus ticket |
un arrêt de bus | a bus stop |
un tableau d'affichage | a notice board |
une question d'argent | a question of money |
une affaire de coeur | a matter of the heart |
un problème de liquidité | a cash-flow problem |
une salle de classe | a classroom |
une salle de bains | a bathroom |
une agence de voyages | a travel agent/agency |
un verre de vin | a glass of wine |
une tasse de thé | a cup of tea |
une tasse de café | a cup of coffee |
But note that when the second noun is modified (by an adjective or a clause, for example) it becomes definite, and a definite article appears:
- une carte de la France métropolitaine
a map of mainland France
- Il va être question de l'argent que je t'ai prêté
There'll be a discussion about the money I lent you
- un arrêt du bus no 25
a stop for the number 25 bus
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the masculine form of an adjective
- Adjectives which follow verbs or verbal expressions
- Gender of countries, towns, islands, rivers, regions and states
- Mass nouns used countably
- Measurements and comparisons Numbers with length, height, depth etc
- Use of y
- Order of unstressed object pronouns when more than one is present
- Déterminants
- Abstract versus concrete nouns
- Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Kings, queens and popes
- Masculine and feminine forms of adjectives — No change in written or spoken French
- Plural forms of adjectives — Adjectives which end in eau
- Comparative forms of adjectives
- Position of more than one object pronoun with faire etc. + infinitive
- Ordinal numbers as fractions