French Articles and Determiners
French articles can be confusing, because they have to agree with the nouns they modify and don't always correspond to articles in other languages. If you have a noun in French, there is virtually always an article in front of it, unless you use some other type of determiner.
Introduction to French articles
French has three different kinds of articles: definite, indefinite, and partitive.
French has three different kinds of articles: definite, indefinite, and partitive.
Definite articles
The French definite article (le, la, l', les) corresponds to "the" in English.
The French definite article (le, la, l', les) corresponds to "the" in English.
Indefinite articles
The singular French indefinite articles (un, une, des) correspond to "a," "an," or "one" in English, while the plural corresponds to "some."
The singular French indefinite articles (un, une, des) correspond to "a," "an," or "one" in English, while the plural corresponds to "some."
Partitive articles
The French partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) correspond to "some" or "any" in English.
The French partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) correspond to "some" or "any" in English.
Choosing an article
The French articles may seem similar at times, but they are not interchangeable. This page will help you understand when and why to use each one.
The French articles may seem similar at times, but they are not interchangeable. This page will help you understand when and why to use each one.
Determiners
Determiners introduce and simultaneously modify nouns, and are much more common in French than in English.
Determiners introduce and simultaneously modify nouns, and are much more common in French than in English.
Quiz: Definite, indefinite, partitive articles
Try your hand at recognizing and using the different types of French articles.
Try your hand at recognizing and using the different types of French articles.
Quiz: Advanced definite articles
Do you understand advanced uses of the French definite article?
Do you understand advanced uses of the French definite article?