Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article-in-noun-constructions-linked-by-de"

From Polyglot Club WIKI
< Language‎ | French‎ | Grammar
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "thumb <div style="font-size:300%"> French Grammar – Omission of the article in noun constructions linked by de</div> The article is...")
 
Line 4: Line 4:




{| class="wikitable"
|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:
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:

Revision as of 19:28, 15 October 2021

French-Language-PolyglotClub.png
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