LDM: The partitive article

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LDMPage13_appleexample.jpgThe Partitive Article

The partitive article corresponds to some or any in English. Look at the image below. Then read the information follows and closely study the presentation towards the bottom of this page. It is very important that you complete the embedded practice activities for the partitive article. It's a concept that can sometimes be difficult for students to understand.

There are four partitive articles:

  1. du - masculine singular
  2. de la - feminine singular
  3. de l' - masculine or feminine singular when preceding a noun starting with a vowel or silent h
  4. des - masculine or feminine plural

The form of the partitive article to use depends on three things: 1) the noun's number, 2) the noun's gender, and 3) first letter of the noun:

  1. If the noun is plural, use des
  2. If it's singular starting with a vowel or silent h, use de l'
  3. If it's a singular noun and starts with a consonant, use du for a masculine noun and de la for a feminine noun

Important note: When you negate sentences that have a partitive article, du, de la, de l' , et des become pas de. Always!

Look at these examples:

Articles: Positive and Negative
Article In the affirmative In the negative
du J'achète du fromage. Je n'achète pas de fromage.
de la Ils veulent de la tarte. Ils ne veulent pas de tarte.
de l' Elle mange de l'aubergine. Elle ne mange pas d'aubergine.
des Nous mangeons des haricots verts. Nous ne mangeons pas d'haricots verts.

*pas d' when the noun begins with a vowel or silent h.

Take notes as you go through the presentation and embedded activities below.

Download a printable version: click here Links to an external site..

Practice Activities

It's time to practice. Complete the two embedded activities below.

Activity 1:

Activity 2:

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