Articles

Articles – le, la, les, un, une, des, du, de la

Les articles

One of the eight parts of speech, an article is a word that modifies a noun in a particular way, by stating whether the noun is specific, unspecific, or partial. There are three types of French articles and they all asgree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.

1) Definite / Défini

The definite article indicates that the speaker is referring to either a specific noun or to a class of nouns in a general sense. The English definite article, the, has four equivalent forms in French, depending on the gender and number of the noun as well as what letter it begins with.

2) Indefinite / Indéfini

The indefinite article indicates that the speaker is referring to either an unspecific noun or to one/some of something. The English indefinite article has two forms, a and an, while the French has three, depending on the gender and number of the noun.

The English equivalent of des is some, which is considered an adjective rather than an article.

3) Partitive / Partitif

The partitive article indicates that the speaker is referring to only a portion or some of an uncountable noun, often food or drink. There are four forms in French, depending on the gender and number of the noun as well as what letter it begins with.

Article défini

The French definite article indicates either a particular noun or, contrarily, the general sense of a noun.

Par exemple…

Characteristics of definite articles

1. Used with countable and uncountable nouns
2. Placed directly in front of a noun or an adjective + noun
3. Agree with the noun in number and sometimes gender
4. Contract with certain prepositions

French definite articles

+ There are three singular definite articles:

1. Masculine: le
2. Feminine: la
3. Contracted (masc or fem in front of vowel or mute h): l’

+ There is only one plural definite article: les.

When preceded by the prepositions à and de, the definite articles le and les must contract with them:

Using definite articles

French definite articles are used similarly to their English counterpart, “the,” to talk about specific, identified nouns.

Par exemple…

However, there are many instances where a definite article is required in French but not English.

1) Multiple nouns

When there’s more than one noun, French requires a definite article in front of each one.

2) General sense

Definite articles are used to talk about a noun or group of nouns in a general sense:

3) Topics and Issues

Abstractions, politics, school subjects, languages* – all need a definite article in French:

* Except after parler, when the definite article is optional: Je parle grec / Je parle le grec.

4) Per

The definite article is equivalent to “per” when talking about price per quantity.

5) Countries

When talking about most countries and continents without a preposition, a definite article is required for all but a few (lesson coming soon).

6) Superlatives

In superlatives with adjectives that follow the noun, French requires a second definite article:

7) Possession

Several possessive constructions require the definite article in French.

1. a)Possessive de

1. b)Posssessive pronouns

1. c)Parts of the body

8) Time and Date

Some references to time and date need a definite article.

1. a)Specific dates

1. b)Vague periods of time

1. c)Habitual actions with days of the week and times of day

However, one-time actions with days of the week or times of day do not take a definite article.

9) Talking to/about people

1. a)Addressing a group

1. b)Talking to/about a person using a title but no name

1. c)Talking about a person using a title and name

* When addressing a person using a title and name, there’s no article:

10) Euphony

In front of on and un, a meaningless l’ is often added for euphony.

Article indéfini

The aptly named indefinite article indicates an unspecific or unidentified noun.

Par exemple…

Characteristics of indefinite articles

1. Used with countable nouns*
2. Placed directly in front of a noun or an adjective + noun
3. Agree with the noun in number and sometimes gender

* As opposed to uncountable nouns like money and water, which take the partitive article.

French indefinite articles

+ There are two singular articles, each of which can mean a, an, or one:

1. Masculine: un
2. Feminine: une

+ There is only one plural indefinite article: des.

Using indefinite articles

You can use indefinite articles in front of unnamed, unidentified, or unspecified nouns, as long as they are countable.

Par exemple…

The nouns may be modified by

1) adjectives

Par exemple…

2) noun phrases

Par exemple…

3) relative clauses

Par exemple…

The indefinite article is not used when talking about a person’s profession, religion, or any other defining noun in the following construction:

Noun / Name / Subject pronoun + être + profession / religion / noun

Par exemple…

In certain constructions, the indefinite reverts to simply de (or its contraction d’).

With negation

After expressions of quantity

After avoir envie and avoir besoin (plural only)

When an adjective precedes the noun (plural only)