Some bread, some water
The partitive article (article partitif) goes before a noun when you mean an unspecified amount: some bread, some water, some fruit. English often leaves out the word (I eat bread). French needs an article here. It is made of de plus the definite article and depends on gender and number.
The four forms
| Form | Goes before | Example |
|---|---|---|
| du | a masculine singular noun | du pain (bread) |
| de la | a feminine singular noun | de la confiture (jam) |
| de l' | a vowel or silent h, masculine and feminine | de l'eau (water), de l'argent (money) |
| des | a plural noun, masculine and feminine | des légumes (vegetables) |
Je mange du fromage.
I eat cheese.
Tu veux de la confiture ?
Do you want some jam?
Il y a de l'eau dans le frigo.
There is water in the fridge.
Nous mangeons des légumes tous les jours.
We eat vegetables every day.
Also for abstract things and activities
The partitive article is not only for food and drink. It is used for anything you do not count: qualities such as courage or luck and, with faire, activities such as sport.
Il a du courage.
He has courage.
Tu as de la chance.
You are lucky.
Je fais du sport.
I do sport.
Elle fait de la danse.
She does dance (as a hobby).
When there is no partitive article
After quantities, only de
After beaucoup, un peu, assez, trop and measures like un kilo or un verre, only de follows (before a vowel d'), with no article.
Elle mange beaucoup de fruits.
She eats a lot of fruit.
Je voudrais un kilo de pommes.
I would like a kilo of apples.
Tu veux un verre d'eau ?
Do you want a glass of water?
With likes and dislikes, the definite article
After aimer, adorer and détester you mean the thing in general. Then you use le, la or les, not a partitive.
J'aime le fromage.
I like cheese.
Elle déteste les légumes.
She hates vegetables.
