Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-parts-of-the-body
Simple descriptions[edit | edit source]
In simple descriptions of body parts, French uses a definite article where English uses a possessive determiner (e.g. his, my, their): Il a les yeux bleus His eyes are blue Elle a les cheveux coupés court She has her hair cut short
Body Parts Activation[edit | edit source]
When people activate parts of their own bodies, French also uses a definite article with the body part: Il a plissé les yeux Elle a agité le bras J'ai baissé la tête en y entrant Elle a hoché /secoué la tête He screwed up his eyes She waved 1 lowered my head as I went in She nodded/shook her head
Things which affect bodies[edit | edit source]
When people do things which affect their own bodies, or those of others, the usual construction is a definite article in front of the body part, and a reflexive or indirect object pronoun:
- Je me suis fracturé la jambe
I broke my leg
- Elle s'est fait couper les cheveux
She had her hair cut
- Je lui serre la main
I shake his hand
- On lui a coupé la tête
They cut his head off
- Elle lui essuie les yeux avec un mouchoir
She wipes his eyes with a handkerchief
These constructions are also possible with a possessive determiner, as in English, however:
- Je prends sa main
I take her hand
- Elle caresse mes cheveux
She strokes my hair
- J'appuie mes deux mains sur sa poitrine
I press with both my hands on his chest
Subject of a sentence[edit | edit source]
When body parts are the subject of a sentence, they usually have a possessive determiner, as in English, rather than a definite article:
- Mon coeur s'est arrêté une fraction de seconde
My heart stopped for an instant
- Ma tête me fait mal
My head hurts
- Ses paupières se sont abaissées
His eyelids lowered
- Leurs regards se sont croisés
Their eyes met
Used adverbially[edit | edit source]
When descriptions of parts of the body or items of clothing are used adverbially, they are accompanied by the definite article:
- l'homme au nez retroussé
the man with the turned-up nose
- le comédien au chapeau de paille
the actor in the straw hat
- Il parlait, le sourire aux lèvres
He spoke, with a smile
- Elle est partie, les mains dans les poches
She left with her hands in her pockets
- Il s'est agenouillé, le chapeau à la main
He knelt down with his hat in his hands
- Il a avoué son crime, les yeux abaissés
He confessed his crime, looking down