Get the latest news and gain access to exclusive updates and offers, Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content, The indefinite article in negative sentences, There are some very common adjectives, like, As an English speaker, you will know what sounds right in your own language. un, une / des a, an / some: J'ai mangé un oignon. C’est un renard. In French un, une and des are used. The rule is: replace an indefinite article, such as un, une or des, with de in a negative sentence. (He saw (some) lions at the zoo.). The partitive article indicates an unknown quantity of … I never do my homework on time. — No, it’s not a red car! Hint Answer; Il y a ___ table dans la classe. It’s a black car.). In English we use words like not and never to indicate that something is not happening or is not true. (She doesn’t want any soup.) I ate the onion. Ce sont des amis. Revise and improve your French with detailed content, examples, audio, personalised practice tests … 1. Un precedes masculine singular nouns. (des translates as some but is omitted in English). How to Conjugate Irregular –ir French Verbs, How to Form a Question in French Using Inversion. The sentences that these words are used in are called negative sentences. I was taught in French class to use 'de' after a negative always. With partitive and indefinite articles, the de vs du, de la, des choice has to do mainly with whether the statement is affirmative or negative and whether there’s an adjective in front of the noun.. 1. It’s a fox. Saved by Jenn. Use the indefinite article when you talk about one or several individual things that you can count, as opposed to an entire category of things. The French indefinite article is the equivalent to a/an and some (but English often skips it). C’est une voiture noire. — Non ce n’est pas une voiture rouge! • Negatives When a definite article is used in the negative (unless with the verb être) the indefinite article is … The partitive article indicates an unknown quantity of something, usually food or drink. In a sentence with a negative verb, un, une, and des are replaced by de, even if the noun it introduces is plural. The sentences that these words are used in are called negative sentences. I ate an onion. + There are two singular articles, each of which can mean a, an, or one: Masculine: un; Feminine: une + There is only one plural indefinite article: des. French also has a plural indefinite article (feminine and masculine) des, which correspond to certain uses of the word "some." Just use the indefinite article as if the sentence was affirmative. ), — C’est une voiture rouge, n’est-ce pas? Using indefinite articles. Check a French-English dictionary if you need help with the vocabulary. This rule has one exception. Il n’y a pas de souris dans notre garage. Indefinite articles in negative sentences. Indefinite articles accompany nouns when referring to a nonspecific item. Definite articles denote a specific noun, or a noun in general. (I don’t have any money left.) If so, you’re an indefinite article kind of person, like the French! De vs du, de la, des. (This animal is not a dog. • The indefinite article in French is used even when it is not translated in English. 2 The indefinite article in negative sentences. 2 The indefinite article in negative sentences. Before masculine or feminine plural nouns, Instead of any indefinite article, after a negative verb. ), Elle ne veut pas d’enfants. Can you add the correct indefinite article? I never do my homework on time. They are friends. Indefinite articles: Indefinite articles refer to an unspecified noun. (There are some possible exceptions to this, as described here, but it's generally a good guide. positive sentence negative sentence; Indefinite articles - for quantities we can count: Il a un frère He has a brother Il a une sœur He has a sister Il a des enfants He has some children: Il n’a pas de frère He doesn’t have a brother Il n’a pas de sœur He doesn’t have a sister Il n’a pas d’ enfant He doesn’t have any children ), Tu as mangé une banane. But both the indefinite and partitive articles are usually reduced to de: Elle ne veut pas de soupe. Il n'y a pas ___ garçons dans la classe. Véronique Mazet has a doctorate in French from the University of Texas at Austin and is the author of two successful grammar books. The de in negative sentences becomes d’ before a noun starting with a vowel. You can use indefinite articles in front of unnamed, unidentified, or unspecified nouns, … (I don’t like planes.) With partitive and indefinite articles, the de vs du, de la, des choice has to do mainly with whether the statement is affirmative or negative and whether there’s an adjective in front of the noun.. 1. In a sentence with a negative verb, un, une, and des are replaced by de, even if the noun it introduces is plural. (— It’s a red car, right? Je n’ai plus d’argent. The French indefinite article is the equivalent to a/an and some (but English often skips it). Choose between the definite article (le, la, l’, les) and the indefinite article (un, une, des, and de) to complete the sentences. (You ate a/one banana. She currently teaches French at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. Des can translate to some. Articles — After negatives. )A definite article, such as le, la or les, remains the same in a negative sentence. A simple explanation of "Un, une become de or d' in negative sentences (indefinite articles)". A simple explanation of "Du, de la, de l', des all become de or d' in negative sentences (partitive articles)". ), Il a vu des lions au zoo. In English we use words like not and never to indicate that something is not happening or is not true.