PARTITIVE ARTICLES |
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PARTITIVE ARTICLES - du, de la, l', des
du
de la de l' des |
before a masculine singular noun beginning with a consonant
before a feminine singular noun beginning with a consonant before a masculine or feminine noun beginning with a vowel sound before a plural noun |
Du, De La, Des, Pas De....Expressions of Quantity Explained
DEFINITE ARTICLES - le, la, l', les
Forms
le la l' les |
before a masculine singular noun or adjective beginning with a consonant: eg. le garcon, le stylo, le grand bureau before a feminine singular noun or adjective beginning with a consonant: eg. la table, la serviette, la jolie chaise before a masculine or feminine singular noun or adjective beginning with a vowel sound or a silent h: eg. l'etudiant, l'homme, l'autre classe before all plural nouns or adjectives: eg. les stylos, les femmes, les nouveaux livres |
CONTRACTIONS - When a or de precedes the definite article le or les, the following contractions are made: a + le = au a + les = aux de + le = du de + les = des Note: No contraction is made with la or l'. |
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THE ARTICLE BEFORE GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
QUESTION: How do you know if the geographical name is masculine or feminine?
ANSWER: Most geographical names of countries, states, provinces, rivers, continents, and islands ending with the letter e are feminine.
NOTE:
1) In + feminine country, state, etc. is translated by En + feminine country.
2) In + masculine country, state, etc. is translated by Au + masculine country.
Exception: masculine countries, states, etc. beginning with a vowel (En Iran, en Alabama)
Examples:
1) Countries
Le Canada, Le Japon, Le Maroc, Le Sénégal, Le Chili, Les Etats-Unis
Exception: Le Mexique, Le Cambodge
2) Rivers
BUT
Le Saint-Laurent, Le Mississippi, Le Nil, Le Rhin
3) Provinces
Le Berry
4) States
BUT
Le Colorado, Le Michigan, Le Texas.........au Colorado, au Michigan, au Texas
NOTE: for masculine states, dans le can also be used (dans le Colorado, dans le Connecticut).
5) Islands
BUT
à Hawaii, à Tahiti, à Cuba
6) Continents
All the names of the continents begin with a vowel and, in French, end with the letter e. Although the word continent is a masculine word, the names themselves are considered feminine. Sometimes these continents are grouped together to form five continents:
L'Europe, l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amérique et l'Océanie (En Europe, En Asie, En Afrique, En Amérique et en Océanie)
ANSWER: Most geographical names of countries, states, provinces, rivers, continents, and islands ending with the letter e are feminine.
NOTE:
1) In + feminine country, state, etc. is translated by En + feminine country.
2) In + masculine country, state, etc. is translated by Au + masculine country.
Exception: masculine countries, states, etc. beginning with a vowel (En Iran, en Alabama)
Examples:
1) Countries
- La France, La Belgique, La Chine, La Norvège, La Suède
Le Canada, Le Japon, Le Maroc, Le Sénégal, Le Chili, Les Etats-Unis
Exception: Le Mexique, Le Cambodge
2) Rivers
- La Seine, La Loire, La Tamise
BUT
Le Saint-Laurent, Le Mississippi, Le Nil, Le Rhin
3) Provinces
- La Bretagne, La Normandie, La Colombie-Britannique
Le Berry
4) States
- La Californie, La Floride, La Louisiane
BUT
Le Colorado, Le Michigan, Le Texas.........au Colorado, au Michigan, au Texas
NOTE: for masculine states, dans le can also be used (dans le Colorado, dans le Connecticut).
5) Islands
- Some islands do not take an article before their name and follow the rule that applies to cities:
BUT
à Hawaii, à Tahiti, à Cuba
6) Continents
All the names of the continents begin with a vowel and, in French, end with the letter e. Although the word continent is a masculine word, the names themselves are considered feminine. Sometimes these continents are grouped together to form five continents:
L'Europe, l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amérique et l'Océanie (En Europe, En Asie, En Afrique, En Amérique et en Océanie)
SUMMARY:
TO/AT/IN FROM/OF/ABOUT |
CITIES
à (masc) à la (fem) de d' |
MASCULINE COUNTRIES
au du |
FEMININE COUNTRIES
en de la d l' |
PLURAL
COUNTRIES aux des |