French Definite Articles (Articles définis)

To describe a specific thing, French uses the definite articles. Just like English uses “the”.

The French definite article has four forms:

French Definite Articles

French Article Usage in French Example
le Before masculine singular le matin (the morning)
nouns
la Before feminine singular la vie (life)
nouns
l’ Before masculine or l’amour (love)
feminine singular nouns
beginning with a
vowel or a mute –h
les Before masculine or les bonbons (candies)
feminine plural nouns

Examples
1 Je cherche le téléphone. (I’m looking for the phone)
2 Où sont les toilettes ? (Where is the bathroom)
3 Je ne travaille pas à l’ordinateur. (I’m not working on the computer)
4

– French Definite Articles To Show Possession

In English, you have a specific construction to show possession. You add an apostrophe and an S.

• Here is my sister’s house.

In French, this construction doesn’t exist at all. You have to use the alternate English construction: the
house of my sister.
• Voici la maison de ma soeur.

> Le and les disappear completely when they are preceded by the prepositions à (at) and de
(of/from). This omission is called a contraction, and here’s what happens:
• à + le changes to au
• de + le changes to du
• à + les changes to aux
• de + les changes to des

Here are some examples:

1) Il va au (à + le) travail. (He goes to work.)
2) Nous rentrons des (de + les) îles. (We’re returning from the islands.)
So when can you use definite articles?
1> Use a definite article to accompany a noun when you’re expressing a preference, using a verb
like aimer (to like/to love), préférer (to prefer), or détester (to detest). Here are some
examples:
1) J’aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate.)
2) Il déteste les huîtres. (He hates oysters.)

2> Negative preferences still count as preferences

1) Elle n’aime pas les bananes. (She does not like bananas.)
2)Tu n’aimes pas le froid. (You don’t like the cold.)

3> Use a definite article to name a category in general, like les hommes (men) or le pain (bread),
or a concept, like la vie (life) or l’amour (love).
1) C’est la vie. (That’s life.)
2) Le prix de l’essence a encore augmenté. (The price of gas went up again.)

4> Use a definite article to refer to something known to the listeners because it is unique (there’s
only one). For example:
1) Le président va faire un discours. (The president is going to make a speech.)
2) Le Pape est allé au Mexique. (The pope went to Mexico.)

5> Use a definite article to refer to something made specific by what follows it. For example:
1 ) Le chat des voisins est un siamois. (The neighbors’ cat is a Siamese.)
2) Le livre que tu m’as prêté est formidable. (The book you lent me is great.)

6> Use a definite article to name a geographical place.

1) la France (France)
2) les États-Unis (the United States)

7> Use a definite article before a day of the week to indicate every.
1) le lundi (every Monday or on Mondays)
2) le dimanche (every Sunday or on Sundays)

8> Use a definite article (instead of a possessive adjective like in English) before a part of the body,
with a reflexive verb. Here are a few examples:
1) Tu te brosses les dents. (You’re brushing your teeth.)
2) Nous nous lavons les mains. (We wash our hands.)

9> Use a definite article to name languages. For example:

1) Il apprend l’italien. (He’s learning Italian.)
2) J’étudie le français. (I study French.)