1.4 determiners: definite articles

forms

In French, few nouns can stand alone. Most need to be introduced or 'determined' by an article. As in English, an article is characterized as either definite ('the') or indefinite ('a', 'an'). French articles are also masculine or feminine, singular or plural, according to the gender and number of the noun they determine. Here are the definite articles in French: 

élision and liaison

In the examples above, note that le and la both become l' when they precede a noun beginning with a vowel or a silent h: l'ordinateur, l'université. This is called élision.

Unlike le and la, les does not have a contracted, or reduced form. When les is followed by a word starting with a vowel, the normally silent final s of les is pronounced, making a /z/ sound. This additional sound linking two words is called liaison. Consider the following examples. 

Note that élision and liaison occur with most words starting with h: l'homme, les hommes, l'hiver, les hivers. Exceptions to this rule are words starting with an aspirate 'h'. 

when to use a definite article

to identify a specific noun

The definite article is used to identify a specific noun or to refer to a noun that has already been specified. 

Tu as le livre?

Oui, j'ai le livre. 

to express likes and dislikes

In French, we also use the definite article with verbs of preference, such as aimer, adorer, préférer, détester. English omits the article in such general statements. For example, compare the following examples:

J'aime le chocolat. I like chocolate. 

Marc déteste la pizza? Does Mark hate pizza?

to indicate a habitual occurence

The definite article is used in French with moments of the day, days of the week or seasons to indicate habitual recurrence. For example:

Le weekend, on fait du camping. Le lundi, on travaille.

Le soir, les enfants regardent un film.

no article

Months never require an article: janvier, février, mars, etc.

Days of the week do not require an article in instances where they do not indicate habitual recurrence. For example, 

Lundi, Lucie a rendez-vous avec Marc. Monday, Lucie has a date with Mark.

Exercise: Add the correct definite articles to complete the sentences. Choose between le, la, l' and les depending on gender and number of the noun, and also if the noun begins with a vowel. (Consult the classroom vocabulary list--chapter 1-- if you aren't sure of the gender of the noun.)

1. _________ livres sont dans _________ salle de classe.

2. _________ ordinateur est sur _________ bureau.

3. _________ affiches sont belles!

4. _________ chaise est petite et bleue.

5. _________ stylos et _________ dictionnaire sont dans _________ sac à dos.

6. Tu comprends bien, mais _________ exercices sont difficiles. 

7. Je déteste _________ devoirs mais J'adore _________ examens. 

8. Typiquement, les profs sont toujours à _________ université _________ lundi.