Definite articles: What are the definite articles in French?

Le partitif ﴾The partitive﴿

mas. sing. ‐ LE

fem. sing. ‐ LA

sing. vowel ‐ L'

plural ‐ LES

Definite articles are always used with food items with verbs of preference:

adorer ‐ to love

aimer ‐ to like

détester ‐ to dislike/hate

Examples:

Tu aimes le pain?

Elle n'aime pas les œufs.

Nous détestons la viande.

Ils préfèrent l'huile d'olive.

préférer ‐ to prefer

Indefinite articles: What are the indefinite articles in French?

mas. sing. ‐ UN

fem. sing. ‐ UNE

plural ‐ DES

Indefinite articles are only used with food items when talking about a whole item:

Nous avons un gâteau.

Charles prépare un poulet.

Partitive: • The partitive indicates a part, a quantity or an unspecified amount of something.

• In English, we use "some" or "any" ﴾or sometimes no word at all.

>

Would you like some toast?

>

Do you have any jam or butter for it?

3 questions to determine which article to use:

1. Is it plural? 

Partitive: The partitive is formed by combining "de" with the definite articles ﴾le, la, l', les﴿

de + le =

de + l' =

du

de l'

de + la =

de + les =

de la

des

Partitive vs Indefinite Articles:

un poulet

un gâteau

Yes ‐ DES 2. Does it start with a vowel? 

du gâteau

du poulet

Yes ‐ DE L' 3. Is it masculine or feminine? Masculine ‐ DU, Feminine ‐ DE LA

Partitive: The partitive is often used after certain verbs:

acheter ‐ to buy apporter ‐ to bring avoir ‐ to have ﴾including "il y a"﴿ commander ‐ to order manger ‐ to eat préparer ‐ to prepare vouloir ‐ to want

Partitive ‐ Negative: In a negative sentence, all form of the partitive become de ﴾d' ‐ before vowels﴿

Je mange du pain.

Je ne mange pas de pain.

Elles achètent des épinards.

Elles n'achètent pas d'épinards.