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un kiwi, des kiwis
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 indefinite articles in French:
Note that liaison occurs after un and des with words starting with a vowel or most words starting with an h: un ordi, des ordis, un homme des hommes. Exceptions to this rule are words starting with an aspirate 'h'.
when to use an indefinite article
As the English 'a' 'an' or 'some', the indefinite articles un, une, des refer to nouns which are non-specific. Un or une may also indicate quantity, 'a' or 'an' in the sense of 'one.' Contrast the use of indefinite and definite articles in the sentences below. The indefinite plural des is always expressed in French, but its English equivalent 'some' is often omitted.
Il y a des chaises et des tables dans la salle de classe. There are chairs and tables in the classroom.
L'ordi est sur un bureau. The computer is on a desk.
'de' after the negative
In a negative sentence, the indefinite articles un, une and des are replaced by de or d'.
Tu as un stylo? Do you have a pen?
Non, je n'ai pas de stylo. Tu as un ordinateur? No, I don't have a pen. Do you have a computer?
Non, je n'ai pas d'ordinateur. No, I do not have a computer.
However, following the verb être in the negative, the indefinite articles un, une and des remain unchanged.
Princess Meowington... c'est un éléphant? Princess Meowington is an elephant?
Non, ce n'est pas un éléphant, c'est un chat. No, she is not an elephant, she's a cat.
Nova, aussi? C'est un chat? Nova, too? She's a cat?
Non, ce n'est pas un chat, c'est un chien. No, she's not a cat, she's a dog.
Exercise: Add the correct indefinite articles to complete the sentences. Choose between un, une, or des, depending on the gender and number of the noun, or de or d' if the verb is negated. Remember with être in the negative, the article remains unchanged.
C'est _______ petite salle de classe!
Il y a ______ tables, ______ chaises, et ______ bureau pour le professeur.
Il n'y a pas ______ posters. Il n'y a pas ______ télévision.
Il y a ______ tableaux et ______ petite fenêtre.
Il y a typiquement ______ étudiants et ______ prof.
Ce n'est pas ______ belle salle de classe.
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