Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Typical-use-of-the-indefinite-article"
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== New, countable & concrete nouns== | == New, countable & concrete nouns== | ||
You can use the '''indefinite article''' to introduce a new, concrete, countable noun (maison, tableau, livre, voiture, etc.): | 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 | *Je me suis trouvé '''une''' joli propriété en Espagne | ||
<blockquote>I found myself a nice property in Spain</blockquote> | <blockquote>I found myself a nice property in Spain</blockquote> | ||
*Voulez-vous admirer un Cézanne? | *Voulez-vous admirer '''un''' Cézanne? | ||
<blockquote>Do you want to admire a Cézanne?</blockquote> | <blockquote>Do you want to admire a Cézanne?</blockquote> | ||
==Countable & concrete entities== | ==Countable & concrete entities== | ||
Another is to describe a general class of countable, concrete entities: | Another is to describe a general class of countable, concrete entities: |
Revision as of 23:02, 3 December 2021
Definition: Definite article
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
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
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
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