definite articles negation french

Here are some examples: Il déteste les huîtres. But both the indefinite and partitive articles are usually reduced to de: Elle ne veut pas de soupe. The articles are: de + le = du, de + la = de la, de + l’ = de l’ and de + les = des. (I don’t have any money left.) Now, if you have studied my lesson on indefinite and partitive articles, you may be a bit confused (and I am being polite!). Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French? (The price of gas went up again.). (We’re returning from the islands.). Definite Article. (The president is going to make a speech. To describe a specific thing, French uses the definite articles. 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. La (feminine singular), 3. Use a definite article to refer to something made specific by what follows it. (French people, as a collectivity, so in general), La patience est une qualité utile. (Milk, in general), Les Français sont sympathiques. After negatives, the definite article does not change: Je n’aime pas les avions. The French definite article has four forms: 1. Véronique Mazet has a doctorate in French from the University of Texas at Austin and is the author of two successful grammar books. Partitive articles du, de la, de l' and des all become de or d' (in front of a vowel or mute h) in negative sentences using ne...pas, ne...jamais, ne...plus etc (See also N'avoir plus de = … BLACK FRIDAY 40% OFF SALE – ENDS IN Hrs Min Sec. Just like English uses “the”. So I really suggest you grab your French exercise book and train on applying these contractions until they become second nature to you! (I don’t like planes.) Now let’s see how we use the French definite articles. -> Je n'aime pas le chocolat. 1. J’aime le théâtre mais je préfère le cinéma. It’s not just slang. In English, you have a specific construction to show possession. Available for iOS, Android, Mac and Windows. Je mange la pomme je ne mange pas la pomme. • Definite articles (le, la, les) don’t change in negative sentences. For example: Il apprend l’italien. French has three articles: a definite article, corresponding in many cases to English the; an indefinite article, corresponding to English a/an; and a partitive article, used roughly like some in English. (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). ), Le Pape est allé au Mexique. (She does not like bananas. (He hates oysters. For example: Le président va faire un discours. (She doesn’t want any soup.) Now let’s see how we use the French definite articles. (The neighbors’ cat is a Siamese. It would translate to some or any in English. If you have no article in English, you could be omitting a word, like “some” (which you don’t always say). Les (plural). What about its “mutant” contracted forms? 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. You know that the form of the negation in French is: ne + verb + pas. ), Nous rentrons des (de + les) îles. However, if you do say “de le” or “à le” in French, it sounds terrible. Use a definite article (instead of a possessive adjective like in English) before a part of the body, with a reflexive verb. Note that in English, the article is often skipped in such instances. 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. ), Le livre que tu m’as prêté est formidable. Le and les disappear completely when they are preceded by the prepositions à (at) and de (of/from). Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 23+ years in the US and France. This omission is called a contraction, and here’s what happens: Il va au (à + le) travail. Je n’ai plus d’argent. Get Started for Free The difficulty comes from the article that is after. L’ (followed by a vowel), 4. You have to use the alternate English construction: the house of my sister. Je range les livres je ne range pas les livres. 2. 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. Most of my audiobooks are recorded at several speeds to help you conquer the modern French language. (I’m looking for the phone), Où sont les toilettes ? The definite article is also used with general concepts, where in English you’ll use no article. For example: Le chat des voisins est un siamois. ), Tu n’aimes pas le froid. 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 name languages. ), Nous nous lavons les mains. ), Negative preferences still count as preferences, Elle n’aime pas les bananes. We’re a 2 person company based in France… Please consider supporting FrenchToday on Patreon or purchasing our unique audiobooks to learn French. With a definite article like Le, La, Les or l’ there is no change. The French definite article is the equivalent of the. - Non, je n’aime pas le foot. The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners. Includes dialog, study guide and full transcript + translations.