The Partitive Article

saying you want SOME of... in French!!

What IS an article in grammar? An article is used with nouns. It may be

Definite, Indefinite or Partitive. The Definite Article in English is “the”

and in French, le, la, l’ or les, according to the gender and number of the noun.

The Indefinite Article in English is “a” / “an” in the singular or “some” in the plural. In French, we use un, une or des, according to gender and number.

The Partitive Article

The Partitive in English is when we say “some” plus a singular noun - ie we mean part of the whole - eg some cake, some ice cream, some bread.

In French, of course, the form of the Partitive depends on the gender of the noun.masculine singular + consonant : dufeminine singular + consonant : de lamasculine/feminine singular + vowel/h : de l’

Des exemples...

Je voudrais du thé.

Elle boit de l’eau.

Tu veux de la limonade?

“des”

“des” is actually the plural Indefinite Article, but it is often used along with the Partitive as it also translates “some” or “any”.

J’achète des croissants. I’m buying some croissants.

Elle mange des chocolats.

Negatives

In a negative sentence, for all forms of the Partitive, just use ‘de’ (d’ before vowels or h).

Je ne veux pas de beurre. I don’t want any butter.

Elle n’achète pas de glace. She’s not buying any ice cream.

Il ne mange pas de croissants. He doesn’t eat croissants.

When do I USE the Partitive?

Use the Partitive when you mean “some” or “any”, when you’re talking about what you want, what you’re having, what you’re buying etc.

Je veux de la bière. I want some beer.Tu veux du vin? Do you want any wine?Tu prends du sucre? Do you take sugar?Papa achète du pain. Dad’s buying some

bread.

RAPPEL

Remember that when you are talking about likes and dislikes, you must still use the Definite Article.J’adore le chocolat chaud. I love hot chocolate.Je n’aime pas la glace. I don’t llike ice cream.Tu aimes les escargots? Do you like snails?

And, of course, for “a”, use “un/une”.J’achète une glace. I’m buying AN ice cream.Tu veux un café? Do you want A coffee?