Topic: Articles

Definite articles are words meaning “the” in English—they refer to specific things or general categories. In French, every noun has a gender (masculine or feminine), and the article must match. Unlike English, which has just one word “the,” French has four forms: le, la, l’, and les. Choosing the right form depends on the noun’s … Read more

Indefinite articles mean “a,” “an,” or “some” in English. They’re used when talking about non-specific items—”a book” (any book), not “the book” (a specific one). French has three indefinite articles that must match the gender and number of the noun: un (masculine), une (feminine), and des (plural). Article IPA Gender/Number English un [œ̃] Masculine singular … Read more

Partitive articles express an unspecified quantity of something you can’t count individually — “some” or “any” in English. They’re used for things like food, drinks, and abstract concepts. English often omits “some,” but French always requires these articles. There are only three partitive forms: du, de la, and de l’. The Partitive Articles Article IPA … Read more

In French, when the prepositions à (to, at) and de (of, from) are followed by the definite articles le or les, they merge into contracted forms. These contractions are mandatory — you cannot say à le or de les. This lesson focuses on these grammatical contractions that combine prepositions with definite articles. The Contractions Preposition … Read more