DEFINITE & INDEFINITE ARTICLES
Second lesson Deuxime leon
CONTENTS
I. The indefinite article II. The definite article
Introduction Introduction
1. Forms 1. Forms
2.Choosing an indefinite article 2. Choosing a definite article
3. Basic meanings & uses Nouns starting with a
vowel or H mute.
Notes on indefinite articles
omission Notes on H mute
3. Basic meanings & uses
ARTICLES : AN INTRODUCTION
In French, a noun is usually introduced by a determiner.
Articles ( indefinite, definite and partitive) form one of
the main groups of determiners in French.
In this lesson, we introduce the forms and main uses of
indefinite and definite articles.
THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
I. THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
The indefinite article in French has three forms.
The singular indefinite articles un (m.) or une (f.) are
the English a/an.
The plural des corresponds to some has the same form
for both genders.
1.FORMS
The indefinite articles
SINGULAR PLURAL
Masculine Un Des
Feminine Une Des
2.HOW TO CHOOSE INDEFINITE ARTICLES
Which indefinite article to use depends on two
things: the nouns gender and number.
- The nouns gender The nouns number
(masculine or feminine) (singular or plural)
Un garon a boy Des garons (some) boys
Une fille a girl Des filles (some)girls
3. BASIC MEANINGS AND USES
In both cases singular or plural indefinite
articles refer to an unspecified person or
thing.
Singular forms: Plural form:
masculine- feminine Masculine - feminine
It is translated as a/an It is translated as some
Il y a un garon dans la Il y a des garons dans la
classe. classe.
There is a boy in the classroom. There are (some) boys in the classroom.
Il y a une fille dans la classe. Il y a des filles dans la classe
There is a girl in the classroom. There are (some) girls in the classroom.
3.1 OMISSION OF INDEFINITE ARTICLES
When referring to a persons profession or religion in
French, the indefinite article is not used.
Il est professeur. He is a professor.
Elle est tudiante . She is a student.
BUT
The indefinite article must be used when the persons
profession or religion is preceeded by a qualifying word
(adjective):
Il est un excellent professeur.
He is an excellent professor
Elle est une excellente tudiante.
She is an excellent student
THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
II. THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
There are four forms of the definite article in French
The singular definite articles le, la, l and the plural les,
All of which correspond to the in English.
1. FORMS
Definite articles
Singular Plural
Masculine Le Les
Feminine La Les
Before vowel or h L Les
2. HOW TO CHOOSE DEFINITE ARTICLES
The use of definite article depends on three
different things:
- The nouns gender (feminine or masculine)
- The nouns number (singular or plural)
- The nouns first letter (vowel or consonnant)
Singular forms Plural form
Masculine - feminine Masculine and feminine
Le garon [the] boy Les garons [the] boy
La fille [the] girl Les filles [the] boy
Note : definite articles Note : definite articles
are often ommitted in are often ommitted in
English. English.
2.1 THE NOUN + VOWEL OR MUTE H
- The definite articles le and la contract to l
(masculine or feminine) when a noun starts with a
vowel or mute H.
- If the noun (masculine or feminine) is plural, use
les.
Nouns starting with a vowel Nouns starting with H mute
Singular: Singular:
Lami (masculine) Lhomme (masculine)
[the] friend [the] man
Lamie (feminine) Lhistoire (feminine)
[the] friend [the] history
Plural: Plural:
Les amis Les hommes
[the] friends [The] men
Les amies
Les histoires
[The] friends
[The] histories
2.2 THE H MUTE
The h muet or mute h, is never pronounced but it
affects determiners in two ways.
As you have already noticed, there is a contraction of
the definite articles le/la before nouns such a
- [Le] homme lhomme.
- [La] histoire lhistoire
HOWEVER...
There are some exceptions where there is no
contraction.
The reason for this is etymological.
The best way to remember which ones allow
contractions and which do not, is to learn the words
themselves.
OBSERVE:
H nouns from Germanic
H nouns from Latin: use l
languages : use le
Lheure La honte
[the] time [The] shame
Lhoraire Le hros
[the] timetable [The] hero
Lhtel La Hollande
[the] hotel Holland
Lhypothse Le hasard
[the] hypothesis [The] coincidence
3. BASIC MEANINGS AND USES
Use definite articles to indicate :
- a specific noun
- a general meaning of the noun
A DEFINITE ARTICLE
Introduces a specific Indicates a general
noun meaning of a noun
Lhistoire de la France La vie est belle!
The history of France Life is beautiful!
La facult de Sciences Lamour est compliqu!
The faculty of Sciences Love is complicated!
Cest tout pour aujourdhui!
Au revoir!
Merci!
