FRENCH ARTICLES Definite vs. Partitive
The use of the definite article (le, la, etc.) and of the partitive (du, de la, de l',or a blank) in French depends upon whether or not they follow the preposition "de." "De" is a preposition when it follows expressions that require "de" before a noun, such as "beaucoup de," "parler de," and "avoir peur de."
A. Not following the preposition "de":
1) le,la,l',les:
a) refer to a definite object and are translated by "the." Ex. the dust = la poussière
b) refer to an idea or thing in general or in the abstract, or to an entire group, and are not translated. Ex. dust (in general) = la poussière; love (the abstract idea)=l'amour, les femmes (all women)
2) du,de la, de l',des:
refer to an indefinite quantity and are translated by "some" or are not translated. Ex. (some) dust = de la poussière
Translation problem: Often in English there is no article before a noun: We want apples. Truth is important. Ask yourself whether the English implies "some" or "in general":
Exercises: (Type Entire Sentence) Vocabulaire: le temps, la vérité, trompeur, magnifique, la déception, la vague, la mer 1) Give me time Answer 1
2) The desk is in front of the lamp. Answer 2
3) Truth (in general) is deceptive Answer 3
4) Life is wonderful. Answer 4
5) The student's disappointment Answer 5 6) There are waves in the sea. Answer 6 B. The articles (not prepositions) "des, du, etc." become "de": 1) when they immediately precede a plural adjective (and the adjective does not form a unity with the following noun); Ex. des livres => de gros livres. (but: des jeunes filles) 2) when "du, de la, etc" are the direct object of a negative sentence and the noun they modify is totally negated by this sentence ,"not...any," "none" (after "être" the noun is not totally negated, so "du, etc." remain the same in the negative). Ex. Il a un stylo. => Il n'a pas de stylos (mais: Ce n'est pas un stylo.)
Vocabulaire: mauvaises connotations
Exercises: 7) She has big ideas. Answer 7
8) We haven't any time. Answer 8
9) They don't want any coffee. Answer 9
10) These words have bad connotations. Answer 10
11) This is not a problem. Answer 11
C) Following the preposition "de" (you must memorize those verbs or expressions that are followed by the preposition "de," such as avoir besoin de, avoir peur de, and be aware when "de" is a preposition meaning "of" ("beaucoup de livres") or "from" ("Il vient de la cave")):
2) Use no definite article, Expression + de
when referring to an indefinite quantity ("some"). Ex. avoir besoin de voiles = to need (some) sails. beaucoup de voiles = lots of sails. Ils parlent de voiles=They are speaking about (some) sails.
1) Use the definite article, Expression+de + le(etc.)
a) when referring to a specific object ("the"). Ex. avoir besoin de la voile = to need the (specific) sail. beaucoup de la soupe que tu as achetée hier= lots of the soup you bought yesterday.
b) when referring to an idea or thing in general or to an abstract idea. Ex. avoir peur des voiles, de l'amour= to fear sails (in general), to fear love (the abstract idea) Ils parlent des voiles.=They are speaking about sails (in general).
Exercises: Vocabulaire: le poème, la strophe, la blague, les renseignements, se fâcher, rentrer
12) He is speaking about (some) poems. Answer 12
13) He is speaking about poems (in general). Answer 13
14) We read lots of the stanzas in that poem yesterday. Answer 14
15) She laughs at the joke. Answer 15
16) I want information. Answer 16
17) She gets angry at jokes. Answer 17
18) We will return home from the dance at 3AM. Answer 18