Language/French/Grammar/Typical-use-of-the-indefinite-article

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How do we use the indefinite article in French?

Definitions[edit | edit source]

French Articles[edit | edit source]

French has 3 kinds of articles:

  1. Definite articles
  2. Indefinite articles
  3. Partitive articles

The table below summarizes the different forms:

French Articles
Definite article Indefinite article Partitive
masculine le un du
feminine la une de la
in front of a vowel l' un/une de l'
plural les des des

Definite article[edit | edit source]

In French, nouns are almost always preceded by an article or a determiner. This indicates the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine) and its number (singular or plural).

The definite article (articles définis) (le, la, les) goes with a noun whose meaning is completely determined.

They correspond to the English article "the".

Examples:

  • sur la table

on the table

  • près de la fenêtre

near the window


Lessons : Definite article & Indefinite article

New, countable & concrete nouns[edit | edit source]

You can use the indefinite article to introduce a new, concrete, countable noun (maison, tableau, livre, voiture, etc.):

  • Je me suis trouvé une joli propriété en Espagne

I found myself a nice property in Spain

  • Voulez-vous admirer un Cézanne?

Do you want to admire a Cézanne?

Countable & concrete entities[edit | edit source]

Another is to describe a general class of countable, concrete entities:

  • Normalement une voiture a 4 roues et un vélo en a 2

Normally a car has 4 wheels and a bike 2

  • II s'agit d'une erreur classique d'un élève de CM2

This is a classic mistake made by a CM2 student.

In this 'generic' use, the indefinite article is usually interchangeable with a plural definite article:

  • Normalement les voitures ont 4 roues et les vélos en ont 2
  • Il s'agit d'une erreur classique des élèves de CM2

de + definite article les


Abstract nouns[edit | edit source]

Abstract nouns ("courage, beauté, réalisme, importance" / courage, beauty, realism, importance, etc.) are normally accompanied by the definite article. But when they are modified by an adjective they take an indefinite article.

Compare:

  • II admire l'intégrité

He admires integrity

  • Il a montré une intégrité exemplaire

He showed an exemplary integrity

  • La beauté du lieu nous avait laissé bouche-bée

The beauty of the place left us speechless

  • Le château de cette région de la Loire était d'une beauté incroyable

The castle in this region of the Loire was incredibly beautiful

Video: Definite Articles in French[edit | edit source]

Other chapters[edit | edit source]

Table of Contents

Nouns


Determiners


Personal and impersonal pronouns


Adjectives


Adverbs


Numbers, measurements, time and quantifiers


Verb forms


Verb constructions


Verb and participle agreement


Tense


The subjunctive, modal verbs, exclamatives and imperatives


The infinitive


Prepositions


Question formation


Relative clauses


Negation


Conjunctions and other linking constructions

Contributors

Maintenance script


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