Today, let’s learn more about “les articles” (articles), also known as “déterminants” (determiners). First, we will see why “les articles/déterminants” are so important in the French language, then we will learn the difference between “les articles définis” and “les articles indéfinis” and how to use them. Finally, a small exercise will allow you to check if you have understood the lesson.
What is an article?
If you are just starting to learn French, you need to know that every object, activity, action, and all common nouns have a gender. Yes, table is a feminine common noun, while carton is masculine. This is why les articles or déterminants are essential in French. They indicate the gender of the noun they accompany, and they also help to know if we are talking about one object or several.
In summary, articles accompany common nouns and indicate their gender and number. For example:
- tasse is a feminine noun: la tasse
- bureau is a masculine noun: le bureau
- chocolat is a masculine noun: du chocolat
- salade is a feminine noun: de la salade
As we have just understood, it is very important from the beginning of your French learning to understand why and how to use them.
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Definite Articles
Les articles définis are used to talk about something you know. There are 3 articles définis: le, la, and les.
As explained in the introduction, articles are essential in French because they indicate the gender and number of the nouns they accompany. As you can see in the table above, le indicates that the noun is masculine singular, la indicates it is feminine singular, and les is used for plural nouns, regardless of their gender.
Indefinite Articles
Les articles indéfinis are used to talk about something you don’t know or for general statements. There are 3 articles indéfinis: du, de la, and des.
As with les articles définis, du is used for masculine singular nouns, de la for feminine singular nouns, and des for plural nouns of any gender.
Difference between Definite and Indefinite Articles
To know if you should use a definite or indefinite article, ask yourself the question: “Am I talking about something specific that I know, or something in general?”
Using Definite Articles
Les articles définis are used when talking about a specific object, person, or place.
For example, if you ask a friend to pass le chocolate from the fridge door, you would say:
“Passe-moi le chocolat qui est dans la porte du frigo.”
In this case, you use le because you are talking about a specific chocolate.
Using Indefinite Articles
Les articles indéfinis are used to talk about something indefinite, something general.
Let’s take the same example but this time using an indefinite article:
“Passe-moi du chocolat.”
In this case, your friend can give you any chocolate, the one in the fridge door or the one on the table.
The difference between les articles définis and les articles indéfinis is therefore a matter of specificity.
Let’s Sum It Up
Articles are used to indicate the gender (feminine or masculine) and the number (singular or plural) of common nouns. You will use les articles définis to talk about something specific and les articles indéfinis to talk about something general.
