Les article défini (The definite article)
In English, there is only one form of the definite article the. In French, there are three forms, depending on the gender and number of the noun following the article.
- with a masculine singular noun: le (the)
- with a feminine singular noun: la (the)
- with a plural noun (masc or fem): les (the)
| Masc Sing | Fem Sing | Fem Sing |
|---|---|---|
| le chauffeur (the driver) | la secrétaire the secretary | Les étudieants (the students) |
| le salon ( the lounge) | la cuisine (the kitchen) | les chambres (the bedrooms) |
Note: le and la both changes to l' before vowel or silent h
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Before Vowel | l'avion (the plane) | l'odeur (the smell) |
| Before silent H | l'homme (the man) | l'hôtesse (the hostess) |
Pronunciation: the s of the les is pronounced z when the noun following it begins with a vowel or a silent h
Use
As in English, teh definite article is used when referring to a particular personor thing, or particular persons or things:
-les amis dont je t'ai parlé (the friends I told you about)
-le café est prêt (the coffee is ready)
The definite article is used far more frequently in French:
when the noun is useed in a general sense
- refer to all things of a kind
-vous acceptez les chéques ? (do you accept cheques?)
-le sucre est mauvais porur les dents (sugar is bad for the teeth)
- to refer to abstract things
-le travail et les loisirs ? (work and leisure)
-la musique classique (classical music)
- when stating likes and dislikes
-J'aime la viande, mais je préfère le poisson (I like meat, but I prefer fish)
-je détest les tomates (I hate tomatoes)
with geographical names
- continents, countries and area
-le Canada (Canada) la France (France) l'Europe(Europe)
-la Bretagne (Brittany) l'Afrique (Africa) les Etats-Unis (the United states)
But the article la is omitted with the preposition en(to, in) and de(from)
-j'habite en France (I live in France)
-il vient d'Italie (he comes from Italy)
- mountains, lakes and rivers
-le mont Everest (Mount Everest)
-le lac de Genéve (lake Geneva)
with names of seasons
-l'automne (autumn)
-l'hiver (winter)
-le printemps (spring)
-l'été (summer)
But:
-en autumne/été/hiver (in autumn/summer/winter)
-au printemps (in spring)
-un jour d'été (a summer's day)
with names of languages
-j'aprends le français (I am learning French)
But:
-ce film est en anglais (this film is in English)
with parts of the body
-j'ai les cheveux roux (I have got red hair)
-ouvrez la bouche (open your mouth)
-les main en l'air (hands in the air/ hands up)
-l'hommes à la barbe noire (the man with the black beard)
with names following an adjective
-le petit Pierre (little Pierre)
-la pauvre Isabelle (poor Isabelle)
with titles
-le docteur Coste (Doctor Coste)
-le commandant Cousteau(Captain Cousteau)
with days of the week to express regular occurrences
-que fais-tu le samedi? (what do you do on sunday?)
with names of subjects or leisure activities
-les maths (maths)
-l'histoire et la géographie (history and the geography)
-la natation, la lecture, le football (swimming, reading, football)
in expressions of price, quantity
-c'est conbien le kilo,/la douzaine/la bouteille? (how much is it for a kil/dozen/bottle?)