French articles are words that introduce nouns and indicate their gender, number, and definiteness or indefiniteness. This covers definite, indefinite, and partitive articles.
French articles are small words placed before nouns to signal the noun’s gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular or plural), and whether the noun is specific or general. There are three main types of articles: definite articles (le, la, l’, les) for specific nouns, indefinite articles (un, une, des) for unspecified countable nouns, and partitive articles (du, de la, de l’, des) for expressing an unspecified quantity of something, often with mass nouns. Articles must agree with the noun they modify, and some change form for pronunciation (e.g., l’ before a vowel). Understanding articles is essential for building accurate French sentences.
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Table of Contents
- Definite Articles
Definite articles in French express “the” for specific nouns (le, la, l’, les). They agree in gender and number, and are used before known or general items.
- Indefinite Articles
French indefinite articles and their usage for general, unspecified quantities or noun introductions.
- Partitive Articles
Partitive articles in French are used to express an unspecified quantity of something, often translating to "some" or "any" in English. They appear before mass nouns or uncountable items and adjust according to the gender and number of the noun.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
