Partitive Articles (du, de la, des) & Quantity
Les articles partitifs et la quantité • A1 • 12 cartes
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Exemples
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du (masculine singular partitive article)
some (used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant)
📌 Note de grammaire
The partitive article 'du' is used to express an unspecified quantity of an uncountable masculine noun (like food or drink). It is formed by combining the preposition 'de' with the definite article 'le'.
Exemple
de la (feminine singular partitive article)
some (used before feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant)
📌 Note de grammaire
Use 'de la' before singular feminine nouns that begin with a consonant or a aspirated 'h' to indicate an unspecified, countable mass or portion.
Exemple
de l' (elision before vowels and mute h)
some (used before any singular noun starting with a vowel or mute h)
📌 Note de grammaire
When a masculine or feminine singular noun begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or a mute 'h', 'du' and 'de la' contract to 'de l'' to avoid a vowel clash (hiatus).
Exemple
des (plural partitive article)
some (used before plural nouns of any gender)
📌 Note de grammaire
'Des' is the plural partitive article used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns. Note that in French, even if English omits 'some' with plural nouns, French requires 'des'.
Exemple
de / d' (negation of partitive articles)
any / no (used in negative sentences)
📌 Note de grammaire
In a negative sentence (e.g., ne... pas), the partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) change to simply 'de' (or 'd'' before a vowel). This applies to direct objects of verbs.
Exemple
un / une vs. du / de la
a/an (countable unit) vs. some (uncountable mass)
📌 Note de grammaire
Use indefinite articles ('un'/'une') for whole, countable items. Use partitive articles ('du'/'de la') for uncountable substances, masses, or portions.
Exemple
un peu de (quantity expression)
a little (of)
📌 Note de grammaire
Expressions of quantity use 'de' (or 'd'') regardless of whether the following noun is masculine, feminine, or plural, and the article (du, de la, des) is dropped.
Exemple
beaucoup de (quantity expression)
a lot of / much / many
📌 Note de grammaire
'Beaucoup de' expresses a large quantity. Like other quantity expressions, it is followed directly by 'de' (or 'd'') without any partitive or definite article.
Exemple
assez de (quantity expression)
enough (of)
📌 Note de grammaire
'Assez de' indicates a sufficient quantity. It follows the standard quantity rule: quantity adverb + 'de' + noun.
Exemple
trop de (quantity expression)
too much / too many (of)
📌 Note de grammaire
'Trop de' expresses excess. It maintains the invariable 'de' before both countable plural nouns and uncountable mass nouns.
Exemple
un verre de / une tasse de (containers)
a glass of / a cup of
📌 Note de grammaire
Container nouns used to measure quantities are followed by 'de' (or 'd''). No article is used between the container and the substance.
Exemple
pas de (total absence)
no / not any
📌 Note de grammaire
'Pas de' is used to express zero quantity or complete absence of something, functioning identically to the negation rule for partitive articles.
Exemple
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