Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Definite-and-indefinite-articles"
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
* | *Léna est une copine de Lara et la copine de François. | ||
* | *Léna a acheté une glace. Elle aime beaucoup la glace. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
when we talk about a thing or an indeterminate person. | when we talk about a thing or an indeterminate person. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Léna est une copine de Lara. (one among several) | ||
when something is mentioned for the first time in a text (introductory value). | when something is mentioned for the first time in a text (introductory value). | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Léna a acheté une glace. | ||
Info | Info | ||
If the name is preceded by an adjective, the plural undefined article | If the name is preceded by an adjective, the plural undefined article | ||
des becomes de. | |||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Léna et Lara ont acheté de bonnes glaces. | ||
== When to use the article defined in French? == | == When to use the article defined in French? == | ||
The form of the definite article is "le" in the masculine singular, | The form of the definite article is "le" in the masculine singular, | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
when you designate a thing or a particular person. | when you designate a thing or a particular person. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Léna est la copine de François. | ||
when referring to a person or thing already identified or when a generalization is made. | when referring to a person or thing already identified or when a generalization is made. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Elle éteint la lumière. | ||
after loving, worshiping, preferring, hating | after loving, worshiping, preferring, hating | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Elle adore les chevaux. | ||
== How to contract articles and prepositions? == | == How to contract articles and prepositions? == | ||
The definite article and the preposition which precedes it contract and form only one word: | The definite article and the preposition which precedes it contract and form only one word: | ||
| Line 90: | Line 90: | ||
non-quantifiable things that can not be counted. | non-quantifiable things that can not be counted. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Il faut acheter de l'eau et du café. | ||
different sports (with doing) and musical instruments. | different sports (with doing) and musical instruments. | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
* | *Il fait du foot. | ||
* | *Il joue de la flûte. | ||
| Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
=== the names of cities === | === the names of cities === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Ils habitent à Paris. | ||
* | *les jours de la semaine | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
We saw it on Monday. | We saw it on Monday. | ||
=== months === | === months === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Je suis né en juillet. | ||
=== constructions of the type <code>en + means of transport</code> === | === constructions of the type <code>en + means of transport</code> === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *As-tu voyagé en train ou en voiture ? | ||
=== trades in a general context === | === trades in a general context === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Elle est laborantine. | ||
but to designate a concrete person: | but to designate a concrete person: | ||
* | *Je connais la laborantine. | ||
a particularity : | a particularity : | ||
* | *C’est une bonne laborantine. | ||
=== religions === | === religions === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
*Il est catholique. | *Il est catholique. | ||
but to designate a concrete person: | but to designate a concrete person: | ||
* | *C’est le catholique qui va tous les jours à l'église. | ||
a particularity : | a particularity : | ||
* | *C’est un bon catholique. | ||
If the partitive article is put, one uses "de" without article in the following cases: | If the partitive article is put, one uses "de" without article in the following cases: | ||
=== with the quantitative data, except "bien", "la plupar", "une partie", "la majorité" and "la moitié"=== | === with the quantitative data, except "bien", "la plupar", "une partie", "la majorité" and "la moitié"=== | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *J’ai bu beaucoup de café. | ||
=== after the negation === | === after the negation === | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
* | *Il n’a plus d'eau dans son verre. | ||
On the other hand, with some verbs and expressions built with "de", there is no article. | On the other hand, with some verbs and expressions built with "de", there is no article. | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
* | *J’ai besoin d’argent. | ||
* | *J’ai envie de fraises. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
https://francais.lingolia.com/fr/grammaire/articles | https://francais.lingolia.com/fr/grammaire/articles | ||
Revision as of 12:31, 17 November 2019
What is an article?
Names are almost always accompanied by an article or another determinant.
This indicates the gender of the name (male or female) and the number (singular or plural).
There are definite articles (le, la, les) and indefinite articles (un, une, des).
Examples:
- Léna est une copine de Lara et la copine de François.
- Léna a acheté une glace. Elle aime beaucoup la glace.
When to use the indefinite article in French?
The form of the indefinite article is a masculine singular and a feminine singular. There is also an indefinite plural article: "de" (this form remains the same for the masculine and the feminine). The indefinite article is used:
when we talk about a thing or an indeterminate person. Example:
- Léna est une copine de Lara. (one among several)
when something is mentioned for the first time in a text (introductory value). Example:
- Léna a acheté une glace.
Info If the name is preceded by an adjective, the plural undefined article des becomes de.
Example:
- Léna et Lara ont acheté de bonnes glaces.
When to use the article defined in French?
The form of the definite article is "le" in the masculine singular, "la" in the feminine singular ("l’" when the next word begins with a vowel) and "les" (feminine and masculine).
The definite article is used:
when you designate a thing or a particular person. Example:
- Léna est la copine de François.
when referring to a person or thing already identified or when a generalization is made. Example:
- Elle éteint la lumière.
after loving, worshiping, preferring, hating Example:
- Elle adore les chevaux.
How to contract articles and prepositions?
The definite article and the preposition which precedes it contract and form only one word:
| Preposition | Preposition + article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à | à + le = au | la glace au chocolat |
| à | à + les = aux | fais attention aux enfants |
| de | de + le = du | parler du jeu |
| de | de + les = des | c’est la table des enfants |
What is partitive?
When referring to an indeterminate quantity taken from a whole, we use the partitive "du" (masculine), "de la" (female). There is no plural.
The partitive article is used, to designate:
non-quantifiable things that can not be counted. Example:
- Il faut acheter de l'eau et du café.
different sports (with doing) and musical instruments. Examples:
- Il fait du foot.
- Il joue de la flûte.
When should not I use an article?
The article is omitted in the following cases:
the names of cities
Example:
- Ils habitent à Paris.
- les jours de la semaine
Example: We saw it on Monday.
months
Example:
- Je suis né en juillet.
constructions of the type en + means of transport
Example:
- As-tu voyagé en train ou en voiture ?
trades in a general context
Example:
- Elle est laborantine.
but to designate a concrete person:
- Je connais la laborantine.
a particularity :
- C’est une bonne laborantine.
religions
Example:
- Il est catholique.
but to designate a concrete person:
- C’est le catholique qui va tous les jours à l'église.
a particularity :
- C’est un bon catholique.
If the partitive article is put, one uses "de" without article in the following cases:
with the quantitative data, except "bien", "la plupar", "une partie", "la majorité" and "la moitié"
Example:
- J’ai bu beaucoup de café.
after the negation
Example:
- Il n’a plus d'eau dans son verre.
On the other hand, with some verbs and expressions built with "de", there is no article.
Examples:
- J’ai besoin d’argent.
- J’ai envie de fraises.