LES ARTICLES DÉFINIS -
(DEFINITE ARTICLES)
A definite article is a word that is used before the noun to define it as specific.
In English, the only definite article is THE, whereas in French there are four of them.
They are Le, La, L’, and Les. [THE]
Le is used for masculine nouns begin with a consonant
Le crayon (pencil)
Le joujou ( toy)
Le stylo (pen)
La is used for feminine nouns begin with a consonant
La table (table)
La craie (chalk)
La femme (lady/wife)
L’ is used for nouns that begin with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u, h,y )
L’histoire ( history) [F]
L’église (church) [F]
L’autobus ( autobus) [M]
L'oiseau (bird) [M]
L'horloge (Wall clock) [F]
Les is used for all plural nouns either masculine or feminine.
Les pommes ( apples)
Les chats ( cats)
Les chiens ( dogs)
Based on the definite article that appears in front of each noun below, indicate whether the
noun is masculine [singular,plural] or feminine [singular,plural]
LA LES LE LES L’ LES
[feminine [Feminine [masculine [masculine [mas/fem [mas/fem
singular] plural] singular] plural] singular] plural]
La table Les tables Le stylo Les stylos L’horloge Les horloges
[table] [tables] [pen] [pens] [clock] [clocks]
La chaise Les chaises Le sac Les sacs L’ami Les amis
[chair] [chairs] [bag] [bags] [friend] [friends]
LES ARTICLES INDÉFINIS
( INDEFINITE ARTICLES)
The indefinite article is the word that is used before the noun to define it as non-specific.
In English, the indefinite article are a, an and some whereas in French they are un, une and
des.
There are 3 indefinite articles:
Un is used for masculine nouns begin with a consonant
Un crayon (a pencil)
Un joujou ( a toy)
Un stylo (a pen)
Une is used for feminine nouns begin with a consonant
Une table (a table)
Une craie (a chalk)
Une femme (a lady/a wife)
Des is used for all plural nouns either masculine or feminine.
Des pommes ( some apples)
Des chats ( some cats)
Des chiens ( some dogs)
Based on the indefinite article that appears in front of each noun below, indicate whether the
noun is masculine [singular,plural] or feminine [singular,plural]
Un Des Une Des
Masculine singular Plural Feminine singular Plural
Un stylo Des stylos Une chaise Des chaises
(A pen) (Some pens) (A chair) (Some chairs)
Un ordinateur Des ordinateurs Un portable Des portables
(A computer) (Some computers) (A phone) (Some phones)
