13

Articles

------- - -----------
1
Q1lC ~nretr-1 0llS d4ja ?
W11ut Do Yon Kno"f Already'?
-1 ·11 I bl l1 kx ll itl till c 1net Jom1 of tl1r illdicnr, d arricft,: 1

111dcfi 11itt•
ami, f
). ma1son

-- - - t:.1 t ' 7. port t's

rt pon,e ~- p rnft'SSCllr

lhre ~). rcs t:1ur:1nts

't ------

nerr , 10. fl"mmc

s ~

Definite and Indefinite Articles

us articles defl 11is et indcfinis
In Fr m.:h. noun, art "thcr ma~culine or feminine. U nlike English there is
n uter gendtr (

• Th e definite nrriclc
In Engli--h. tht:: dt:fir:.1te Jrticle 1hr applie:- to mc1sculi11c. frminine. and plu-
n uns In Fn.:nch. thert i, a difft rt nt nniclc for rad1: in rhc plurnl.
nmun an l ma --culin ,\orcb tnkt the ,.1mt artide.

~ TE \\'hen .1 noun begim, with a ,o"-el or .1 mu te h (h thr.r is not pro-

.. ., ........... d, suLh a, --hommc"). the ddinite auidcs le .rnd la d1ange to l'.

FEMISINE PLURAL
~L\scUl.lNE
ks g.irro n,, ks tabks
la
le

l'
r

157
 • The indefinite_ articl~ ticle a applies to mascu1ine and fern· .
In English, the mdefimte a{ the plural, there is no indefinite a/tne,
nouns (a man~ a w~~a~~t fndefinite article for masculine, ferni~~le. lr1
French there 15 a dif er d b g·nning with a vowel O ne, and
' .h h ge for wor s e 1 r a Illute h
plural, wit no c ~n d n sometimes be translated into some ·
The indefinite article es ca ·

....------- --=F-:-E MIN~=IN E=-----IP ~L~URA L~~-~

MASCULINE

une table des garcons, d e s ~

un gan;on
bogs, tables
La~b~O'l!_'lf_ _ _ _ _ a table ____ ____
~=..=::..:__ ____________

General Uses of the Articles

Quand utiliser un article

CONTRACTIO NS OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE WITH THE PREPOSITIO NS AND

I

Masculine Feminine Plural

a I
a + le ➔ au (a l') a + la ➔ a la (a l') + les ➔ aux

de + le ➔ du (de I') de + la ➔ de la ( de l ') de + les ➔ des

J e vais a la plage. J e vi ens de la plage.

J e vais au cinema.
, ,.J. e parle a la dame.
Je par1e au professeur. - - -
Je parle aux eleves.
Je parle a l'eleve.
J e viens du cinema.
J e parle de la dame.
Je parle du professeur .
J e parle des eleves.
Je parle de l'eleve.

XHE DEFINITE ARTICLE EXPRESSE S

• The possessive: with the preposition de
- La robe de la jeune fille est bleue.
The dress of the young woman is blue.

• Names of peoples or animals when expressing a gener~~

Les americains aiment voyager. Americans like to travel.
Les lions sont feroces. L· fi · us
ions are erocw .
• Abstract nouns_
~

.
La gentillesse de cette femme est exem p1aire.
. d ,+- h .
Th e k in ness o1 t is woman is exemplar
~ y.

-~~~ :..;_ _--- ----- ----- ----- --

158 Complete French Grammar Review
~ ·ttve Article
el'~;
1JI tt,rtitiJ .. .l .
it p fhe partitwEe al~tihc e_ 1~ used before a noun to exp .
ured. In ng 1s , 1t 1s translated as ress a quantity that cannot
i,e rtlea
S some or any, or omitted
. altogether.
1bought some milk. · ➔ J' 31. ,
Would you like some apple pie? ➔ Vi ~chete du lait.
· ou ez-vous de la tarte aux pommcs?
I bought some apples.
I bought apples. ➔ 1'.a~
achete des pommes.
➔ J achete des pommes.
31
Do you have any apples?
➔ Avez-vous des pommes?
Do you have apples?
➔ Avez vous des pommes?

~,1~. After the verbs aimer, detester,

preferer, adorer, the definite article
mu st be used instead of the partitive.

c,omp_are: .

aJ
~,I') ~I J achete du la1t. I buy (some) milk.
J'aime le lait. I like milk.
110,

11 II
8)
I

WHEN Do UN, UNE, DEs, Du, DE L', AND DE LA BECOME DE?

• In the negative form
As-tu un cahier de vocabulaire? Non, je n'ai pas de cahier de vocabulaire.
Veu t-elle toujours des bonbons? Non, elle ne veutjamais de bonbons.
A-t-il de l'argen t? Non, il n'a pas d 'argent.

With the verb etre there is no change in the negative form:

C'est un film policier. ➔ Ce n'est pas un film policier.

Ce sont des roses. ➔ Ce ne sont pas des roses.

NOTE: ne ... que is not a negative. It means onlg.

TI n'a que des problemes. He has onlg problems.

Articles 159

d11
• W'ith exprell8iollll of 411aJ1titY, ¢'igbts, and JDeasurc•
a lot of, rnanJJ, much
1,eaucouP de en ugh
as ,nuch as manJJ
assez de
autant de le
moinB de ,n re
plus de
t ,nuch
trOP de ab ttlt of
une bouteille de a ki
un kilo de
une livre de
un verre (\e
une W" de
une douzaine de
une boite de
un litre de
unmetrede
 • \V}len something is mad ~ f
c Q! or f
Qt something
un livre de geologic
une robe de soie (or en s01e)
. a !Jt'ol0m, hook
a silk dress
l
• When a plural adjective 11:
reced~ the noun \ .J
de belles pommes mais
beautiful apples des pommes pourries
rotten apples

TIP
Do not confuse the indefinite
C ompare
Elle a des lunettes de soleil.
She has sungLasses.
11 parle des films fran~ais.
He speaks about the French movies.
&rti'
c1e des with the contraction
. of de + lesl
Elle n'a pas de lunettes de soleil.
She doesn't have sunglasses.
Il ne parle pas des films franc;ais.
He doesn't speak about the French movies.

Special Uses of the Definite Article

Utilisation de l 'article defini
• The ~e~te article is used before a day of the week to imply
repetition

Le lundi je vais a l'universite a 9 heures.

On Mondays I go to the university at 9 o'clock.

NOTE: For a specific day of the week, nothing comes before the name of
the day: On Monday ➔ Lundi.

• To express measures of weight or speed

Ces pommes coutent 1 euro le kilo.

These apples cost 1 euro per kilo.

Il a roule a 70 kilometres a l'heure.

He drove at 70 kilometers per hour.

• With parts of the body instead of a possessive adjective

Elle a les cheveux blonds et les yeux verts.

She has blond hair and green eyes.

A rticles 161
 • With the names of languages
. . d j'etais en Chine.
J' ai etudie le chino1s quan in China.
I studied Chinese when I was

• With names of acadentlc subjects

Cette annee, j'apprends la ch~rnie.

This year, I am learning chemistr/j.
rson's profession followed by his/her
• Before the name of a pe llittte
, ' l'hopital
Le docteur Dubois est alle a ·
Dr. Dubois went to the hospital.
· when addressing that person, there is no article:
➔ H owever, . D b .
Bonjour Dr. Dubois. Good morning, Dr. u ois.

• Before a £amilY name

Les Dupont, les Lemaire (there is nos at the end of the name).

OMJ.SSI0N OF THE ARTICLE

• When the verb parler is used with the name of a language

II parle fran~ais. He speaks French.

Compare with: ll etudie le fran~ais. He studies French.

• Before a specific day of the week

Lundi, je vais voir ma tante. On Monday, I will see my aunt.

I • In an address

'I 10, avenue Colbert

• In a heading

Acte I, scene 1-Chapitre trois

Act 1, Scene I-Chapter Three

• After sans

Il est sorti sans paraplui

He went out without a n umbe.
rella.

162 Complete French Grammar Review

r , ,A.fter avec for abstract th'mgs

11 attend toujour s avec p .

ea l ways waits pat'iently (with
atience·.
H patience)
s!JT: II prend son caf'e avec du sucre H·
"ft d . e takes h .
• .r:>- er en an a geographical n is coffee with sugm:
ame

En Australie ' on pare 1 angl .

In Australia, they speak English.
ais.

• In some proverbs
\
..... ,
Oeil pour oeil ' dent pour d
n eye for an eye' a toothfior a ent.
tooth.
A
,1
,. the name of a pro1.ess1on Y, er the
• Before
ver etre I! • , religion
• or nationalit aft IO
•
L,

b
nest professeur. Elle_ est catholique.
He is a teacher. She is a catholic.

SPECIAL EXPRESSION: One and the other = l'un et l'autre

8
QUICK
I. DansPRACTICE
ce fait-divers (n,:ws item), le jonrnaliste, qui Otait en retard
oub!iO tons Jes articles! Mettez-les pour lui s'il le faut. '

Hier, pendant _/e .c _ diseours du Premier Ministre, _ / ' jeune femme s'est
levee et a cri€: "Vons nous avez menti!" - - boJIJJlle qui Otait assis a cote
d'elle et qui Otait probablement son mari, a essay< de la calmer, mais elle a \eve
- - - bras en criant: "Vons nous racontez - - bistoires qui ne sont pas
vraies!" ____ Premier Ministre a rOpondu: "De quoi parlez-vous, Madame?"
Elle a dit "Vons avez dit - - - - peuple que - - argent destine ____

arts n'allait pas etre

Le Premier Ministre a repondu en riant: "Mais bien sUr, madame, c'est
touche!"
___ vOritO. pour moi, - - - - thO&tre, - - cinema, - - musique
sont tres importants. ,ail)eurs, ma femme est - - pianiste. Je vous promets
0
que nous ne touchoUS pas a---- budget destine aux arts!"

Articles 163
 . ·f s'il y a lieu.
. l1 pa.ttltl ,
, . indefilll o
II. Mettez l 'article defini,
ne vertu,
_ _ patience es t u _
1· :ma 111ere.
2. ]'ai achete - fleurs pour
fil:rns etrangers.
3. Elle aime - - classe de gym.
eleves sont dans 1a
4. La plupart - -
5. Je n'ai pas - - timbres.
er111arche.
6. I1 y a - - belles oranges au sup
7. Elle aime son cafe sans - - - sucre.
8. I1 a etudie - - - geologie a- - universite.
9. ]'accepte votre invitation avec - - - plaisir.
10. Donnez-moi _ _ boite _ _ chocolats s'il vous plait.

m. Conversation
Pierre est alle au marche pour sa mere. II rentre a la maison et sa mere lui
demande ce qu'il a achete. Traduisez ce que les deux ont dit:

"Pierre, where are the apples?"

"There were no apples; I bought oranges."
"Did you buy milk?"
"Yes, I bought two bottles of milk."

"Did you find the green beans (les haricots verts)?"

"Yes, but I don't like green beans."

"I know, but did you buy the green beans?"

"Yes, I bought the green beans and al
,, so the potatoes "
And the cheeses?" ·

"Yes, here are (voici) the h

c eeses."
"But you bought only tw0 h
c eeses!"
"I didn't have enough money."
r
A ufICJ,H BEf'ORE GEOGR_t\PllICt\l N
&.{}I.' , . ' AI\JJt;S
ff! e nnmes of cont111ents, countr·1,.8 l
'f11 ' "' , :,, II 1l' S p 10
• '
s etc. are preceded by un artit:lc•
.ver-, "' Vtt1ces, as well as mountains
~II d0

How clu you know ii tho goonrnphicnl

nc.11110 is masculine or feminine?

Must geographical names of countries,

states, provinces, rivers, continents,
and islands ending with tho lotter e
are feminine .

NOTE: In + feminine country, state, etc. is translated by En + feminine

country.

In + masculine country, state, etc. is translated by Au + masculine

country.

Exception: masculine countries, states, etc. beginning with a vowel

(en Iran, en Alabama).

Examples of Countries

La France, La Belgique, La Chine, La Norvege, La Suede

but

Le Canada, Le Japon, Le Maroc, Le Senegal, Le Chili, Les Etats-Unis

Exception: Le Mexique, Le Cambodge

Rivers

La Seine, La Loire, La Tamise

Exception: Le Danube, Le Rhone

but

Le Saint-Laurent, Le Mississippi. Le Nil, Le Rhin

....___ __________________ Articles 165

 Provinces
Nornu111die
La B 1·etag11c, La

but

Le Berry

States
. de la Louisiane
•£
La Cal11.ornte, la
• F1ort L, Tennessee
Exception: Le Delaware, e

but ➔ au Colorado, au Michigan,

Le Colorado, Le Michigan, Le Texas
au Texas d an also be used (dans le Colorado,
1
NOTE: for masculine states, ans e c
dans le Connecticut).

IIll Islands . k
0
. le before their name and follow the rule
Some islands do not ta e an ar c
z that applies to cities:
➔ a Hawat, a Tahiti, a Cuba
"'
:IC
Hawai, Tahiti, Cuba

but
a la Martinique, a la Guadeloupe
Continents
All the names of continents begin with a vowel and, in French, end with the
letter e. Although the word continent is a masculine word, the names themselves
are considered feminine. Sometimes these continents are grouped together to forJD
five continents:
L'Europe, l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amerique et l'Oceanie

"'
En Europe, en Asie, en Afrique, en Ame'ri·que e t en o ceame
, ·
Sometimes, they are divided into seven:

L'Amerique du Nord, l'Amerique du Sud 1 , .

Antarctide), l'Europe, l'Asie' l'Afri que et' 1 'Oceanie
Antarctique (ou

166 Complete Frenc~ Grammar Review

 MASCULINE FEMININE PLUllAL
C1'fIES COUNTRIES COUNTRIES CoUNTIUES
au Senegal en ltnlie aux Etuts-Unis
11 Paris
au Danemark en France aux Pays-Ras*
t0 11 Dakar
au Caire··* au Chili en Angletene
11 la Nouvelle-Orleans*** auJapon en Tha"ilunde
\
de Lyon du Canada de Chine des Etats-Unis \
frOJil de Chicago du Portugal de Belgique des Pays-Bas
du Caire** du Maroc d' Algerie

1
NOTE The Netherlands
I
•Les Pays-Bas
the city's name is Le Caire (in Arabic: Al Kahira), therefore
••au Caire \
a + le ➔ au and de + le ➔ du
· ••*La Nouvelle-Orleans The adjective nouvelle being in the feminine, a la must be use:J
for to and de la must be used for from.
L- - - - - - - - -

QUICK PRACTICE
IV. Vos am.is sont tous partis a l'etranger pendant les dernieres vacances,
voici ou ils sont alles:

Modele: Paul/France/Paris-Pau l est alle en France, a Paris.

1. Angelique/Senegal/Dakar.

2. Patrick/Canada/Montreal.
3. Genevieve/Norvege/Oslo.
4. Jean-Pierre et Paulette/Angleterre/Londres.
S. David/Egypte/Le Caire.

L'-.________________________ 7
_ s_ l...;6;_;_
_le
A_r_tic
 The Parts of Speec~
-
inner Level
Ar1l0leS, 9,g the spefllng of
11

Article Used 1ural, In

whlOh cP9
ames In the P hange. to th8 ourands,
Ith tarnllY n dot• not o We're going
W farnllY name t OU nd I
th• /Ion
'l~ NOU
noun even when more than ona P9WD Is stat't
I have the book and notebook
REPOSITIONS before the defft-1k
WITH p .. and di QC>me
When you make a Qeneral statement positions•
Wh•n the pre cts 81 folloWI,
lhmlk. arttole, It oontra

.... lhlllM'llt
, With • noun of weight or measu,a to 8Xpresa •a.• an•

• Bafor9 anoun Indicating a profession,

by 1be name of the P81SOn.

name of a language.
--·r-· I'm studying Frenc:h.
the definite artlcle when
verb
 Provinces
Articles,
• _
seginne1
-
,,11
d continents w 1,u
you uso
uw 01 '
13

12 The Parts of speech terninlne country an

\'11th a d' I of trom-
me oo~ s bOO" ef! I at. to or • A
the bOys' be)O!(s F Ac1: C

me g:rl's dress
s tne ttle g r1s' dolls
p3 I
urn , ta A Nt?~ ) ori-. d Lond
WITH CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS With most cities: J P.
5
Cf /. !){lire de Svd e} d 0 ~ .:: t ur l bhJnC
• lnd1cat1ng segments oi the day.
With a noun In appos1t1on: Paul, Ms u p
/ ,n ,he attemoon: in the mom ng;
1n tne eve0lfl9 ,-es a m:.1b e
With titles of monarchs.
• Common expressions. Lo s & tl.O s X\ I LOUIS the SLxteentll

With the prepos1t1on SJn5 or with the construction n

:-s most ot the gens .nl
st} o / I havd neither paper nor pon.
first • As a part1t1\ie m the affirmative. st part c;., ~ t I He left without money.
ams e .some coflee
You ".ave sorne rnoney With certain expressions of quantity that take d benucoup
'1l .d !nendS. de trop de, cor: " · , peu de. p us de sse de!
the A ar, a be :,up d ~'S I Mane has a lot of (many) tnends.
r, d
Definite Article Not Used
With the preposition a ec when the noun after it 1s abstract:
apa" Ho,·.e,er. tne defin te article s no, used when ,he part.trve ,s
n tne negauve or when the defrute art cle s used wrth an Je.:in- uc pane a ec enthoUS1asme
entr.
tne ad1ecuve.
el tl1 ' haven : any co"ee §3.2 INDEFINITE ARTICLE
You l1a\ en : any MOr.ey
a ae nas some good tnends The forms of the indefinite article are:
the
nat tl Do not use the definne artic e:
1d cc Singular
In dlfeci address: Bon our docte Lcd<JC
;.,fter the preposition en Nous (;CfiV()f'S en J 'a1un frere. / I have a brother.
Exceptions:
J 'a1une sceur. / I have a sister.
de IIl Li'\e absence of
•els Plural
in hOllOI' of
J'a, des treres. / I have brothers.
A'.er the preposit on de m an adJectlve pnrase·
J'a1 des scsurs. / I have sisters.
 Provinces

14 The Parts of Speech

The Indefinite article: IS llssd:
1
Ar1 c es Beg nner Level 15
• Nhen you want to 53'"/ "a" or "an • It :, also U6':(1 as a
numeral to mean one"·
r, I a boo,-: ar '-f""':: coo.,.
or. I an c.rang,; or o:ie r...rar. .,e
• In front c,f each noun m a sere:-.:
Ja .ise e
crc1_,on et e J ru des bonbons
e bonbon
• Vfi•r, C est or Ce som 1,ru-; o• vntr.out an acf;octive·
Simple Affirmative

a, du cafe. t ha ,e some coffee

J a o« a ande. I a e some meat
• • frtr cen! arc r:. e J aJ ~ l'eau. I a e some \" ater

~,.a l'i: a -.. ...~ ...€:d_ ".:"':'f-!'S
~,~ a l:l'lo.r,..,,-,a doaars..
s sont, elle est, el/es sont ... an
o• 'a· 0na ·1 :::,•c,f'=Ss on or r"'6g100:
a cxo!~;.;'l...
a pan 1 ve n the p uraJ as ong as you are not.
g about somethmg countab e
I.!, "1CC 'eo noun .k mange des pates. I am ea• ng pasta

.
' Simple Negative

.J£:n 'ai pas de cafe.11 don't have any coffee.

.1f:n a, pas de Vlande. I I oon t have any meat.
en a, pas d eau. I I don t have any water.
.Je n a pas d ' eprnards. I J don t have any spinach .
.le n a, pas de pates I I don t have any pasta.

_J

Wrth an Adjective

J Ell de jolis chapeaux. I I have some pretty hats.

Ja de jofies robes. I I have some pretty dresses.
 P1·ovinces

16 The Parts of Speech

Note the following.

• When the noun is preceded by an adverb or noun 01 §4.

quantity or measure, use dt , as in J 11 bt1 111c Jup ch
c'1oses. / I have many things. Nouns, Beginner Level
• When the noun Is modified by another noun, use do, as In
1'11: ecole de dJm,1 • / a school of dance.
• The partitive is not used with 111' or 111 • nl . 111
§4.1 GENDER
Example:
J .11 qwttt,' l.i ma1son sans argent / I left the house without any
P noun is a word that reten, to a person, place thing or
'
quality. Nouns are e1t· her masculine or fem,rnne ' and requ•re
money.
·'" article le, la, '.' or l~s. The gender of many nouns that refer
• Use qw l17ul · and not the partitive when by "somr · "'' •
5 or animals ,s obvious. However, nouns that refer to
mean "a few," in other words, "not many." ,als are not always evident. (See beloN.)
Examples:
J':11 qudques .1m1s. / I have a few (some) friends. .:xamples
J'J1 quelque~ bonbr11s I I have a few (some) candies.
• When the negated verb is no . que I only, the partitive
PERSONS
consists of df.' plus the dellrnte art,cl~
Masculine Feminine
Examples:
Elk ne 111 que des flvres I She reads only books.
l'homme I the man la femme I the woman
Elle nP m,1ngP que des bonbons I She eats only candy.
le gar9on I the boy la jeune t,//e I the girl
pa • Toe partitive must be repeated before each noun. l'oncle I the uncle la tante I the aunt
tt Example:
he I 't. 1d du pap1, r. tr• 1'encre et des cJhl"l"l I Here \hey sell
O
I tt
/1
paper, ink, and notebooks.
1------- _ _ _ . ANIMALS 1
When you are ordering food, ,t ,s possible to use an Masculine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
indefinite article to refer 10 tr.. "' 1r 'l Feminine
Un cafe, s'1/ vous plait I A (cup oij coffee, please. le taureau I the bull
la vache I the cow
le coq I the rooster
la poule I the hen
le chat I the cat
la chatte I the cat I

vov noun does not match the gender

,g" fers. Here are a few examples:
e 17