French articles

le, la, l’, les

un, une, des

le, la, l’, les (definite articles)

• What do these words mean?

• These words all mean the.

• So how do you know which one to use?????

Les articles

• Well, first of all, if the noun is plural, there is only one possibility:

• les

• For example, to say the teachers you would say:

• les professeurs.

Les articles

• If your noun is singular (that means you’re talking about only one thing), then you have to choose from le, la, l’ .

Les articles

• Your choice of definite article depends on the gender of the noun that follows.

• In French, every noun has a gender—it is either masculine or feminine.

• In order to choose between le or la, you have to know the gender of the noun.

Les articles

• For example, the noun boisson (drink) is feminine.

• If you want to say the drink you would say:

• la boisson.

Les articles

• Since casse-croûte (snack bar) is masculine, how would you say the snack bar?

• le casse-croûte

• Fantastique!

Reminder about plurals…

• But what if the noun is plural? For example, frites (fries). How would I say the fries?

• les frites • (You can see that if a noun is plural, you

don’t really need to know if it’s masculine or feminine in order to choose the correct article.)

Les articles

• So when do we use l’ ?

• See if you can figure out the rule:

• l’oignon (m) = the onion

• l’agrafeuse (f) = the stapler

• l’école (f) = the school

• What do these words have in common?

Les articles

• That’s right!! They all start with a vowel AND they are singular.

• Sooooo, l’ is used to mean the in front of a masculine or feminine noun starting with a vowel.

Révision Write the correct article;

then check your work. • 1. _____ livre (m) = the book

• 2. _____ prix (m) = the price

• 3. _____ coupe glacée (f) = the ice cream

sundae

• 4. _____boissons (f) = the drinks

• 5. _____oignons (m) = the onions

• 6. _____ ordinateur (m) = the computer

Révision

• 1. _____ livre (m) = the book

• 2. _____ prix (m) = the price

• 3. _____ coupe glacée (f) = the ice cream

sundae

• 4. _____boissons (f) = the drinks

• 5. _____oignons (m) = the onions

• 6. _____ ordinateur (m) = the computer

le

le

la

les

les

l’

Vous êtes très intelligents!

• So let’s move on to indefinite articles…

Indefinite articles

• un, une & des are indefinite articles. (They don’t refer to any specific item—

any one will do.) • Do you know what they mean? • un livre = a book • une portion = a serving • des frites = some fries

un, une, des

• Which one is used in front of a masculine singular noun?

• un

• Which one is used in front of a feminine singular noun?

• une

Les articles

• So now I bet you can guess when to use des (some).

• That’s right! In front of a plural noun—either masculine or feminine!

How are your matching skills?

• 1. a piece • 2. the fries • 3. the piece • 4. an ice cream

sundae • 5. the order • 6. an order • 7. some desserts • 8. the desserts

• a) une commande • b) les desserts • c) un morceau (piece) • d) la commande • e) le morceau • f) une coupe glacée • g) des desserts • h) les frites

Les articles

Le vocabulaire Les articles

• le

• la

• l’

• les

• un

• une

• des

• the (m.sing.)

• the (f.sing.)

• the (m/f + voyelle)

• the (m/f pl.)

• a/an (m.sing.)

• a/an (f.sing.)

• some (m/f pl.)

Notes (grammar section) Les articles

• Les articles définis: Definite articles.

• They refer to something definite.

• le - (m. sing.)

• la - (f. sing.)

• l’ - (m/f + vowel)

• les - (m/f pl.)

THE

Les articles

• Ex. _______poulet

• _______pomme

• _______oignon

• _______frites

• _______oignons

• the chicken

• the apple

• the onion

• the fries

• the onions

le

les

la

l’

les

Les articles

• Les articles indefinis: indefinite articles

• They refer to something unspecific.

(Anyone will do.)

• un - (m. sing)

• une - (f. sing)

• des - (m/f pl.)

A, AN, SOME

Les articles

• Our next lesson will cover the partitive articles du, de la, and de l’ and des.

Notes (grammaire section) les articles partitifs

• Les articles partitifs: Partitive articles.

• They are used when referring to only part

of a given substance.

• du - (m. sing.)

• de la - (f. sing.)

• de l’ - (m/f + vowel)

• des - (m/f pl.)

SOME

ANY

Les articles

• Ex. _______poulet

• _______pomme

• _______oignon

• _______frites

• _______oignons

• some chicken

• some apple

• some onion

• some fries

• some onions

du

des

de la

de l’

des

Les articles

Ex. I am eating some chicken.

• Je mange du poulet.

• (I am only eating a part of the chicken—

not the whole thing.)

Ex. I would like some pizza.

• Je voudrais de la pizza.

• (I am only eating a part of the pizza—not

the whole thing.)

ATTENTION!

In a negative sentence:

• du

• de la de / d’

• de l’

• des

• Ex. J’aime de la moutarde dans mon hot dog.

Je n’aime pas de moutarde dans mon hot dog.

• Elle mange des oignons.

Elle ne mange pas d’oignons.

become

In a negative sentence

• While we’re at it….

• un

• une de/d’

• Numbers

in negative sentences.

Ex. J’ai un frère. I have a brother.

Je n’ai pas de frère. I don’t have a brother.

Ex. Nous avons deux chats. I have two cats.

Nous n’avons pas de chats. I don’t have any

cats.

become

ATTENTION!

Le, la, l’, les DO NOT CHANGE TO

de/d’ in the negative.

Ex. J’aime les escargots.

Je n’aime pas les escargots.

À pratiquer: Complete on a separate sheet to trade, grade and to turn in! Remember that your CONJUGATED verb will be ONE word.

• 1. We like (some)* mustard on our hot dogs.

• 2. I eat (some) bread. (pain=break, m.)

• 3. He isn’t eating (any) bread.

• 4. I don’t eat (any) onions.

• 5. You (singular) eat (some) onions.

• 6. They are sharing (some) fries. (partager = to share)

• 7. The Wilsons have two dogs and two cats.

• 8. You (plural) do not have (any) dogs or (any) cats.

• 9. Jean eats (some) escargots, but I do not eat (some) escargots.

• 10. I like (the) chocolate, but Madame Hartnett does not like (the) chocolate.

• *Note: In English, we don’t always say “some,” “any,” or “the,” but in French we always use the article before the noun.

Les articles