Le chat dort sur le canapé.
English: The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Articles
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In French, 'articles définis' are words used before a noun to refer to a specific person or thing. They are similar to saying 'the' in English.
When to use it
Use articles définis in French when you are talking about something specific or already known to the listener. They are also used when talking about things in general, like categories or abstract concepts.
Key forms
- le (masculine singular): le livre
- la (feminine singular): la table
- l’ (before a vowel or silent h): l’ami, l’hôtel
- les (plural): les enfants
Examples
La voiture est rouge.
English: The car is red.
L’école commence à huit heures.
English: The school starts at eight o’clock.
Les enfants jouent dans le jardin.
English: The children are playing in the garden.
Tips
- Remember to match the article with the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun.
- Use 'l’' when the noun starts with a vowel or a silent h, no matter the gender.
- Do not drop the article in French, even when talking about things in general (unlike in English).
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some countries and regions do not use an article: for example, 'Israël', 'Monaco'.
- With certain expressions, the article may be omitted (like after 'sans' in some cases).