Artcles
An article precedes a noun.The article also indicates the gender (masculine / feminine) and the number (singular/plural) of this noun.French has three articles,the definite article,the indefinite article and the partitive article.
| Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| M F | M and F | ||
| definite article | le la
l’ l’ |
les | |
| indefinite article | un une | des | |
| partitive article | du de la
de l’ de l’ |
des |
The definite article
The definite articles are le , la,les ‘the’ .They are specific determiners of the noun.
(i). le and la become l’ before a word begining with a vowel or a mute ‘h’ Ex : l’homme 
, l’histoire
(ii). The article precedes nouns,and adjectives which preceded nouns:
la petite table the little table le grand garçon the big boy
(iii) Article follo tout , tous,toute(s) ‘ all ,every, the whole
| tout le vin | all the wine | toute la famille | the whole family |
|---|---|---|---|
| tout l’argent | all the money | toutes les filles | all the girls |
| tous les mois | every month |
How the different articles are used
The definite articles refers to specifics people or things:
Le livre est sur la table. The book is on the table.
The article is usually repeated before each noun:
Il aime les chats , les chiens et les chevaux. He likes cats,dogs and horses.
(a). In certain contexts French and English are used differently :
L’herbe est verte. Grass is gree.
Aime – t-il le vin? Does he like wine.
Elle aime les maths. She loves maths.
Les ordinateurs deviennent de moins en moins chers. Computers are becoming less and less expensive.
(b). With parts of the body,or mind :
Elle a mal à la tête. She has a headache.
Ouvre les yeux. Open your eyes.
(c). with reflexive verb referring to the owner :
Elle s’est lavé les cheveux. She washed her hair.
(d). in many expressions of time,and seasons,dates and festivals
à trois heures du matin / de l’après- midi at three in the morning /afternoon
Il arrivera vers les sept heures. He’ill arrive about seven o’clock.
Elle le fera pendant la semaine. She will do it during the week.
L’ hiver est merveilleux. Winter is wonderful.
le 28 Septembre 1975 28th September 1975
Il me le donnera jeudu. He’ll give it to me on Thursday.
à la Toussaint at Hallowe’en / on All Saints’ Day
But
à Noël at Christmas
à Pâques at Easter
(e). In certain expressions of price,pay,quantity and speed:
cinquante les 100 grammes. a hundred grammes
cala se vend à 50 francs le kilo. That costs 30 francs a kilo.
ce tissu coûte 500 francs le mètre. This material is 500 francs a metre.
