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French • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

article partitif

💡 Grammar Rule

Partitive Articles (les articles partitifs)

In French, partitive articles are used to express an unspecified quantity of something that cannot be counted (uncountable nouns). They typically correspond to "some" or "any" in English, though they are often left untranslated.

1. The Main Forms

The form of the article depends on the gender of the noun and whether it starts with a vowel:

  • Du: Used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
    Ex: du pain (some bread)
  • De la: Used before feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
    Ex: de la monnaie (some change)
  • De l’: Used before both masculine and feminine singular nouns starting with a vowel or a silent h (elision).
    Ex: de l’argent (some money), de l’eau (some water), de l’huile (some oil)

2. Usage and Context

Before Concrete Nouns: Used to indicate an indeterminate amount of food, drink, or material.

  • Boire du vin, de l’eau, de la bière (To drink some wine, some water, some beer)
  • Il faut de la farine, du beurre, du sucre (You need some flour, some butter, some sugar)

Before Abstract Nouns: Used to express qualities or abstract concepts.

  • Il faut du courage (It takes courage)
  • Ils ont de la chance (They are lucky / They have some luck)

Habitual Activities: Partitive articles are very common with the verb faire to describe hobbies or regular activities.

  • Faire du sport (To do sports)
  • Faire de la musique (To play music)
  • Faire du théâtre (To do theater/acting)

3. Special Cases and Warnings

Plural Nouns: While partitives are usually singular, they can be used before plural nouns in certain fixed expressions for items usually handled in bulk.

  • Des épinards (some spinach)
  • Des rillettes (some rillettes)

Avoid Confusion: Do not confuse the partitive article (some) with the contraction of the preposition de + the definite article le/la (of the).

  • Partitive: Je mange du fromage (I am eating some cheese)
  • Prepositional: Le goût du fromage (The taste of the cheese)
  • Prepositional: La recette de la ratatouille (The recipe for/of the ratatouille)
Do you want some bread?
Tu veux du pain ?
Yes, I want some bread.
Oui, je veux du pain.
I am making a cake.
Je fais un gâteau.
You use some flour.
Tu utilises de la farine.
Is there any water?
Est-ce qu’il y a de l’eau ?
Yes, there is some water on the table.
Oui, il y a de l’eau sur la table.
He does sport every morning.
Il fait du sport chaque matin.
He has some energy.
Il a de l’énergie.
Do you have money?
Tu as de l’argent ?
Yes, I have some money in my pocket.
Oui, j’ai de l’argent dans ma poche.
We are eating spinach tonight.
Nous mangeons des épinards ce soir.
I am also serving some carrots.
Je sers aussi des carottes.
Does she listen to music?
Est-ce qu’elle écoute de la musique ?
Yes, she listens to classical music.
Oui, elle écoute de la musique classique.
You have a lot of luck.
Tu as de la chance.
Yes, I have some luck today.
Oui, j’ai de la chance aujourd’hui.
Do you want some wine?
Tu veux du vin ?
No thanks, I prefer water.
Non merci, je préfère de l’eau.
I am buying butter.
J’achète du beurre.
Buy some sugar too.
Achète aussi du sucre.
Do they do theater?
Est-ce qu’ils font du théâtre ?
Yes, they do theater at school.
Oui, ils font du théâtre à l’école.
It takes courage for that.
Il faut du courage pour ça.
He has courage, it is true.
Il a du courage, c’est vrai.
Is there oil in the salad?
Il y a de l’huile dans la salade ?
Yes, there is some olive oil.
Oui, il y a de l’huile d’olive.
I am drinking tea.
Je bois du thé.
I prefer some hot coffee.
Je préfère du café chaud.
Do you want some cheese?
Tu veux du fromage ?
Yes, I am eating some French cheese.
Oui, je mange du fromage français.
Marie is making jam.
Marie fait de la confiture.
She uses some sugar.
Elle utilise du sucre.
Do the children want juice?
Les enfants veulent du jus ?
They are drinking some orange juice.
Ils boivent du jus d’orange.
We are listening to the radio.
Nous écoutons la radio.
There is some music.
Il y a de la musique.
Do you have patience?
Tu as de la patience ?
I have some patience with him.
J’ai de la patience avec lui.
Paul is eating pasta.
Paul mange des pâtes.
He also wants some sauce.
Il veut aussi de la sauce.

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