2. (the indefinite and partitive articles become “de” in the negative), Je ne parle pas des amis d’Anne (no change for the definite article, whether it is contracted or not), J’achète du poisson (some fish ; to cook probably, an unspecified amount), J’achète le poisson bleu (the blue one, specifically), Les poissons sont beaux (fish in general are pretty). Les (plural). (Where is the bathroom), Je ne travaille pas à l’ordinateur. Use a definite article to name a geographical place. You know that the form of the negation in French is: ne + verb + pas. -Do you like football? The difficulty comes from the article that is after. Je n’ai plus d’argent. Now, if you have studied my lesson on indefinite and partitive articles, you may be a bit confused (and I am being polite!). After negatives, the definite article does not change: Je n’aime pas les avions. Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French? - Tu aimes le foot ? Articles — After negatives. Here are some examples: Il déteste les huîtres. (She does not like bananas. Experience how different and efficient our method is. - Non, je n’aime pas le foot. However, if you do say “de le” or “à le” in French, it sounds terrible. • Definite articles (le, la, les) don’t change in negative sentences. We’re a 2 person company based in France… Please consider supporting FrenchToday on Patreon or purchasing our unique audiobooks to learn French. Most of my audiobooks are recorded at several speeds to help you conquer the modern French language. This concept is more difficult for English speakers because you have to add a word where English uses none, so it’s important that you spend time to understand why French uses an article there. J’ai des amis (some friends = indefinite or partitive article, plural), Je parle des amis d’Anne (about Anne’s friends = about the friends of Anne = contraction of the definite article), Je n’ai pas d’amis. 8 – Test Your Understanding of the French Articles, French partitive article (du, de la, de l’, des), my lesson on indefinite and partitive articles, Je cherche le téléphone. L’ (followed by a vowel), 4. 2.5 hours recorded at 3 different speeds. For example: Le chat des voisins est un siamois. Here are my explanations. It’s not just slang. (The pope went to Mexico.). Now let’s see how we use the French definite articles. Also see Du, de la, de l', des all become de or d' in negative sentences (partitive articles) Note that definite articles (le, la, l', les) don't change in negative sentences: J'aime le chocolat. The definite article is often used after certain verbs : Since these verbs introduce nouns taken in a general sense. Unlike the French indefinite articles, the French definite articles remain the same in the negative: pas le, pas la, pas l’, pas les. Use a definite article to refer to something made specific by what follows it. (The neighbors’ cat is a Siamese. For example: Il apprend l’italien. (He’s learning Italian.). ), Le Pape est allé au Mexique. The French definite article has four forms: 1. (She doesn’t want any soup.) ), Tu n’aimes pas le froid. For example: Le président va faire un discours. But both the indefinite and partitive articles are usually reduced to de: Elle ne veut pas de soupe. -> Je n'aime pas le chocolat. (The price of gas went up again.). You have to use the alternate English construction: the house of my sister. If you have no article in English, you could be omitting a word, like “some” (which you don’t always say). It would translate to some or any in English. Here are a few examples: Tu te brosses les dents. Je mange la pomme je ne mange pas la pomme. 1. The French definite article is the equivalent of the. Available for iOS, Android, Mac and Windows. (We’re returning from the islands.). (I’m not working on the computer), Je n’aime pas le lait . ), Nous nous lavons les mains. The definite article contracts with the prepositions “à” and “de” to create a “mutant” form: This is an important part of the French language, and although you may know the rule, it takes time to make this a reflexe. (I don’t have any money left.) She currently teaches French at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. (The president is going to make a speech. Here are some examples: Le prix de l’essence a encore augmenté. If you can say “some”, it is likely to be a French partitive article (du, de la, de l’, des), not a definite article. La (feminine singular), 3. Use a definite article before a day of the week to indicate every. ), Nous rentrons des (de + les) îles. J’aime le théâtre mais je préfère le cinéma. (We wash our hands.). The French definite article has four forms: Unlike the French indefinite articles, the French definite articles remain the same in the negative: pas le, pas la, pas l’, pas les. The best way to get used to all these little words is to study them in context: check out my French audio books. In English, you have a specific construction to show possession. You add an apostrophe and an S. In French, this construction doesn’t exist at all. The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners. (He goes to work. The definite article is also used with general concepts, where in English you’ll use no article.