Definite and indefinite articles

This lesson definite and indefinite articles deal with the basic part of grammar in the french language. Definite and indefinite articles are easy to learn in the french language. However, there are some different things between definite and indefinite articles.


Part I. The indefinite articles

The indefinite articles consist to be (UN and UNE) mean - (a or an) in the English language. Even though both of these indefinite articles(UN and UNE) mean - (a or an), it has different genders in the french language! Both of these indefinite articles have nouns that begins with vowel sounds.

Note: Vowel sounds are (a i e o u)


First gender of the indefinite article ( UN)- A OR AN

(UN) is the masculine indefinite article in the french language, but it goes with a noun.

EXAMPLE ONE

Un- is the indefinite article

Tableau - is the noun

Let's use this indefinite article and the noun in a sentence

Je vois un tableau- I see a blackboard


Even though the masculine indefinite article goes with nouns, but there are nouns that begin with vowels in the french language.

EXAMPLE TWO

Un- is the indefinite article
ordinateur- is the noun

Note: o is the vowel,which is the first letter of the French word ordinateur!

Let's use this indefinite article and the noun in a sentence

Je vois un ordinateur - I see a computer


Second gender of the indefinite article (Une)- A or AN

(UNE) is used as the feminine indefinite article in the French article, but it goes with and follows the noun.

EXAMPLE THREE

Une- is the indefinite article
Pomme- is the noun

Let's use this indefinite article and the noun in a sentence.

Je mange une pomme ---- I eat an apple

Also, the feminine indefinite article (UNE) is also goes with the noun, but there are some nouns that begin with vowels.

EXAMPLE FOUR

Une- is the indefinite article
Affiche- is the noun

Note: A is the vowel and the first letter of the French word affiche

Let's use this indefinite article and the noun in a sentence

Je tiens une affiche --- I am holding a poster


Part II. Definite articles

One can observe that indefinite articles (UN and UNE) means -( a or an). In this case with definite articles,it doesn't have the same meaning as the indefinite articles. However, there are three actual definite articles,which are (LE,LA, and L') -all three of these definite articles mean (THE)in the English language, but they are singular. (LE and LA) are different genders! However, (L') goes with all nouns that begin with vowel sounds.

The first gender of the definite article( LE)-THE

The definite article (LE) is the masculine gender in the French language,which it goes with noun.

EXAMPLE ONE

Le- is the definite article
Mur- is the noun

Let's use the definite article and the noun in a sentence

Vous regardez le mur- You look at the wall


Second gender of the definite article (LA)- THE

The definite article (LA) is the feminine gender in the french language. This one also goes with a noun!

LA- is the definite article
Porte- is the noun

Let's use this definite article and the noun in a sentence

EXAMPLE TWO

Il ferme la porte- He closes the door


The definite article (L')goes with singular nouns that begins with vowel sounds! It is important to always use (L') with a nouns that begin with vowel sound!It is never used with nouns that begin with a consonant.

EXAMPLE THREE- LAST EXAMPLE

Nous voyons l'usine- We see the factory

Note: a is the vowel and the first letter of the French word affiche