Partitive Articles
Partitive articles express an unspecified portion of something, and they guide listeners on whether you're talking about some quantity or an abstract amount.
Key Partitive Articles
The basic partitive articles in French are formed by de + the definite article: du, de la, de l', and des. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
| French Partitive Article | English Equivalent | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| du (de + le) | some / any (masc. sing.) | du pain | some bread |
| de la | some / any (fem. sing.) | de la confiture | some jam |
| de l' | some / any (before vowel) | de l'eau | some water |
| des (de + les) | some / any (plural) | des croissants | some croissants |
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ Je prends du café. | I am having some coffee. | Masc. singular |
| 🍵 Elle boit de la tisane. | She is drinking some herbal tea. | Fem. singular |
| 🥐 Ils mangent des croissants. | They are eating some croissants. | Plural |
| 🥣 Je veux de l’huile pour la salade. | I want some oil for the salad. | Vowel sound |
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Usage
Use partitive articles when referring to an unspecified amount of a mass noun or when you want to highlight a portion rather than a whole. They commonly appear with food, drink, and substances.
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Negative Sentences
In most negative sentences, the partitive article changes to de (or d') after ne... pas, ne... jamais, and similar negations, effectively removing the notion of "some."
| Sentence Type | French Sentence | English Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Il boit du café. | He drinks some coffee. |
| Negative | Il ne boit pas de café. | He doesn't drink any coffee. |
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🚫 Je ne veux pas de café. | I do not want any coffee. |
| 🚫 Elle n’a pas de tisane. | She does not have any tea. |
| 🚫 Ils ne mangent pas de croissants. | They are not eating any croissants. |
| 🚫 Je n’ai pas d’eau. | I do not have any water. |
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Special Expressions
Some expressions keep the partitive article in negative sentences, especially when the article is part of an idiomatic phrase or when emphasis remains on the substance rather than quantity.
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Il a beaucoup de café. | He has a lot of coffee. | Quantity expression |
| ☕ Un peu de thé, s’il vous plaît. | A little tea, please. | Polite request |
| 🍵 Je prends du thé chaud. | I’m having some hot tea. | Descriptive phrase |
| 🧴 Une bouteille de jus d’orange. | A bottle of orange juice. | Measured amount |
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Summary
Partitive articles like du, de la, de l', and des signal an unspecified portion of a mass noun. They switch to de in most negative sentences, and they are essential for talking about food, drink, and other uncountable substances in natural French.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025