In French, partitive articles are used to indicate a non-specific or indefinite quantity of an uncountable noun. They are mainly used when referring to something that cannot be divided into distinct units, such as food, liquids, or abstract concepts.

The partitive articles in French are:

  • du: used with masculine singular nouns
  • de la: used with feminine singular nouns
  • de l’: used with singular nouns starting with a vowel or mute h
  • des: used with both masculine and feminine plural nouns

How are partitive articles used in sentences?

Partitive articles should be used when you want to say “some” or “any” in English. Let’s take a look at some examples:

  • Je mange du pain. (I eat some bread.)
  • Elle boit de la soupe. (She’s drinking some soup.)
  • Nous achetons de l’eau. (We’re buying some water.)
  • Ils mangent des fruits. (They’re eating some fruits.)

It is important to note that partitive articles are used even when there is no equivalent word in English. For example:

  • Je bois du café. (I drink coffee.)
  • Elle aime des bonbons. (She likes sweets/candies.)

When do we not use partitive articles?

Partitive articles are not used in certain cases:

  • After negative statements: Je ne bois pas de lait. (I don’t drink milk.)
  • After expressions of quantity: Il y a beaucoup de sucre. (There’s a lot of sugar.)
  • After verbs of liking, loving, and hating: J’aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate.)

Partitive articles are essential in French grammar when referring to an indefinite or non-specific quantity of an uncountable noun. Remember to use the appropriate partitive article according to the gender, number, and starting sound of the noun. Practice using partitive articles in sentences to improve your French language skills!

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or need more examples!

Quest'articolo è stato scritto a titolo esclusivamente informativo e di divulgazione. Per esso non è possibile garantire che sia esente da errori o inesattezze, per cui l’amministratore di questo Sito non assume alcuna responsabilità come indicato nelle note legali pubblicate in Termini e Condizioni
Quanto è stato utile questo articolo?
0Vota per primo questo articolo!