Partitive Articles

The French partitive article combines de with the definite article and signals an unspecified quantity of something that is typically uncountable or considered in bulk. Use du for masculine singular nouns, de la for feminine singular nouns, de l' before vowels or mute h, and des for plural nouns when referring to some portion rather than a specific set.

In negative sentences the partitive article usually changes to de (or d' before a vowel), so you say je ne veux pas de pain rather than du pain. After expressions of quantity like beaucoup, un kilo, or une bouteille, you also use de without the definite article: j'ai acheté beaucoup de pain, not beaucoup du pain. This rule helps keep the focus on the measurable amount.

Some verbs that express liking, wanting, or needing take the definite article instead of the partitive when referring to general categories, so you say j'aime le pain to mean you like bread in general, not just some bread. Also, certain set expressions and idioms may fix one form or the other, so it's useful to learn common phrases from context.

Partitive articles mark an uncountable or unspecified portion and align with gender and number: du (masc. sing.), de la (fem. sing.), de l' (before vowel), and des (plural). Use de after negatives and quantity expressions. Switch to the definite article when talking about general preferences or when required by idiom.