Definite and Indefinite Articles
In this lesson we study the noun and articles.
✚ Objectives:
- Study definite and indefinite articles in French
Let’s start by familiarizing ourselves with the vocabulary of this lesson. Listen and repeat the words below:
un livre, un objet, une table, un stylo, une table, une chaise, un meuble, un arbre, une fleur, une plante, un animal, un chat, un chien, une maison, un fruit, une pomme, une voiture, un véhicule.
Gender of Nouns in French
In French, a noun can be masculine or feminine. If this does not pose too many difficulties when it comes to animate beings, it becomes complicated for things, inanimate beings. Indeed, the gender of the names of things and notions is completely arbitrary. For example, a tree is masculine (un arbre). A flower is feminine ( une fleur) . It is therefore necessary to memorize the noun and the gender at the same time at the beginning of learning. Let’s see how the articles that depend on the gender of the noun work.
| Gender | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Le livre | The book |
| Le livre est un objet. | The book is an object. | |
| Feminine | La table | The table |
| La table est un meuble. | The table is a piece of furniture. |
Articles and Gender
Here’s a reminder of how articles are used depending on the gender and number of the noun:
| Type of Article | French Article | Example in French | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definite (Masculine Singular) | le | le stylo | the pen |
| Definite (Feminine Singular) | la | la chaise | the chair |
| Definite (Before Vowel) | l’ | l’arbre | the tree |
| Definite (Plural) | les | les stylos | the pens |
| Indefinite (Masculine Singular) | un | un animal | an animal |
| Indefinite (Feminine Singular) | une | une maison | a house |
| Indefinite (Plural) | des | des voitures | some cars |
Using “Être” with Articles and Gender
Let’s use “être” with articles and nouns, keeping in mind the gender:
- Le chien est un animal. – The dog is an animal.
- La chaise est un meuble. – The table is a piece of furniture.
- La fleur est une plante. – The flower is a plant.
- L’arbre est une plante. – The tree is a plant.
Now let’s look at some examples in the plural:
- Les chiens sont des animaux. Dogs are animals.
- Les chaises sont des meubles. Chairs are furniture.
- Les fleurs sont des plantes. Flowers are plants.
- Les arbres sont des plantes. Trees are plants.
🍀 Practice Exercise 🍀
Translate the following sentences from English to French:
- The car is a vehicle.
- A book is an object.
- The apples are fruits.
- Flowers are plants.