French Grammar- Articles
● Definite articles
● Indefinite articles
● Partitive articles
Definite Articles
● Definite articles translate as 'the'
Masculine Feminine Plural
le la les
● 'Le' and 'La' turn to L' when before a vowel sound. 'Les' does not
change.
Some Uses
● Used for abstract concepts (eg. Time)
○ Je n'ai pas le temps. (I don't have time.)
● Used when talking about a concrete object generally, in addition to
being used to talk about a specific object.
○ J'aime le café. (I like coffee.)
■ Even though coffee is being used generally, and not about
a specific cup or type of coffee, the definite article is used.
● Used instead of possessive pronouns in reflexive constructions.
○ Je me brosse les dents. (I brush my teeth.)
● Used for regions/countries/continents, unless the region follows 'en'
(which removes the need for the article.
○ La Bretagne, La France, L'Europe (Brittany, France, Europe)
, ○ When the region takes 'à', the definite article (or, rather, the
contraction of the definite article and à, is used).
■ Eg. Au Portugal
● Used before languages, sports, school subjects, dates, days, and
seasons
À and the Definite Article
● À + le = au
● À + la = à la
● À + l' = à l'
● À + les = aux
Eg. Je parle au professeur. I talk to the teacher.
Nous parlons aux étudiants. We speak to the students.
'De' and the Definite Article
● De + le = du
● De + la = de la
● De + l' = de l'
● De + les = des
Eg. Une remarque du professeur. A comment from the teacher.
Le logement des étudiants. Student accommodation (literally: The
accommodation of the students).
Indefinite Articles
● Indefinite articles translate as 'a', 'an', or 'some' (if plural)
● Definite articles
● Indefinite articles
● Partitive articles
Definite Articles
● Definite articles translate as 'the'
Masculine Feminine Plural
le la les
● 'Le' and 'La' turn to L' when before a vowel sound. 'Les' does not
change.
Some Uses
● Used for abstract concepts (eg. Time)
○ Je n'ai pas le temps. (I don't have time.)
● Used when talking about a concrete object generally, in addition to
being used to talk about a specific object.
○ J'aime le café. (I like coffee.)
■ Even though coffee is being used generally, and not about
a specific cup or type of coffee, the definite article is used.
● Used instead of possessive pronouns in reflexive constructions.
○ Je me brosse les dents. (I brush my teeth.)
● Used for regions/countries/continents, unless the region follows 'en'
(which removes the need for the article.
○ La Bretagne, La France, L'Europe (Brittany, France, Europe)
, ○ When the region takes 'à', the definite article (or, rather, the
contraction of the definite article and à, is used).
■ Eg. Au Portugal
● Used before languages, sports, school subjects, dates, days, and
seasons
À and the Definite Article
● À + le = au
● À + la = à la
● À + l' = à l'
● À + les = aux
Eg. Je parle au professeur. I talk to the teacher.
Nous parlons aux étudiants. We speak to the students.
'De' and the Definite Article
● De + le = du
● De + la = de la
● De + l' = de l'
● De + les = des
Eg. Une remarque du professeur. A comment from the teacher.
Le logement des étudiants. Student accommodation (literally: The
accommodation of the students).
Indefinite Articles
● Indefinite articles translate as 'a', 'an', or 'some' (if plural)
