← Back

Definite & Indefinite Articles

Master the four definite articles (le la les l') and indefinite articles (un une des) and when to use each.
Definite articles: le (m sg) la (f sg) les (pl) l' (before vowel or silent h). They mean the.
Definite articles: le la l' les = the.
le livre / la table / l'ami / les enfants
Use le/la/les for specific nouns previously mentioned or universally known.
Definite articles = specific or known nouns.
Je mange le gâteau = I eat the (specific) cake
Before a vowel or silent h both le and la contract to l'.
Le/la → l' before vowel or silent h.
l'ami / l'école / l'heure / l'homme
Indefinite articles: un (m sg) une (f sg) des (pl). They mean a / an / some.
Indefinite articles: un une des = a / an / some.
un livre / une table / des amis
Use un/une for singular nouns introduced for the first time or counted.
Un/une = a/an for singular new or counted nouns.
J'ai un chat = I have a cat
Des is the plural indefinite article meaning some. It is often omitted in English but must be used in French.
Des = some (plural) — never omit in French.
J'ai des amis = I have (some) friends
After negation (ne…pas) indefinite articles un une des change to de/d'.
After negation: un/une/des → de/d'.
Je n'ai pas de chat = I don't have a cat (not ""un chat"")
Use definite articles with languages school subjects and general/abstract concepts.
Definite articles with languages subjects and abstracts.
J'aime le français / La liberté est importante
Contracted articles: de + le = du and de + les = des. À + le = au and à + les = aux.
Contractions: du / des / au / aux.
Je parle du professeur / Je vais au marché
The partitive articles du (m) de la (f) de l' (vowel) mean some of an uncountable substance.
Partitive articles = some of an uncountable noun.
du pain / de la musique / de l'eau