The partitive article – du, de la, de l’, des
One significant difference between English and French is the use of the partitive
article in French.The partitive article is the equivalent of ‘some’ or ‘any’ in English.
It is a big linguistical error to omit the partitive article!
For example, rather than saying the equivalent of I bought cheese, in French it is
said, I bought some cheese. Rather than saying, Do you have pets? In French it is
said, Do you have some pets? This rule cannot be ignored. If you ask for the
cheese or just cheese without the partitive article, French speakers may think
you’re talking about a specific amount of cheese or all the cheese in the world—
either of which would cause confusion.
The following sentences are illustrations of the use of the partitive article:
Nous avons du pain – we have (some) bread
Ils ont de la viande – they have (some) meat
Je voudrais du vin – I want (some) wine
J’ai bu du vin – I drank (some) wine
RECAP:
The meaning of the partitive article is ‘some’ or ‘any’. In English it is said ‘we have
bread’ and the ‘some’ is left to be understood i.e. it is often omitted. In French
however the ‘du, de la, de l’, des’ must be expressed.
Where there are two or more nouns being referred to the partitive pronoun must
be repeated before each noun;
One significant difference between English and French is the use of the partitive
article in French.The partitive article is the equivalent of ‘some’ or ‘any’ in English.
It is a big linguistical error to omit the partitive article!
For example, rather than saying the equivalent of I bought cheese, in French it is
said, I bought some cheese. Rather than saying, Do you have pets? In French it is
said, Do you have some pets? This rule cannot be ignored. If you ask for the
cheese or just cheese without the partitive article, French speakers may think
you’re talking about a specific amount of cheese or all the cheese in the world—
either of which would cause confusion.
The following sentences are illustrations of the use of the partitive article:
Nous avons du pain – we have (some) bread
Ils ont de la viande – they have (some) meat
Je voudrais du vin – I want (some) wine
J’ai bu du vin – I drank (some) wine
RECAP:
The meaning of the partitive article is ‘some’ or ‘any’. In English it is said ‘we have
bread’ and the ‘some’ is left to be understood i.e. it is often omitted. In French
however the ‘du, de la, de l’, des’ must be expressed.
Where there are two or more nouns being referred to the partitive pronoun must
be repeated before each noun;
