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1)Forms
Definite articles |
le |
garçon |
le+a masculine noun in the singular
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la
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fille
|
la+a feminine in the singular
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l'
|
avion
armoire |
l'+a masculine or feminine noun in the singular which begins with a vowel or mute h : l'hôtel |
les
les |
garçons
filles |
les+ a noun in the plural (masculine or feminine) |
| l' before vowel or mute h |
2) Uses
The French definite articles (le, la,l', les) have generally the same uses as the English definite article the .They precede a common noun which is:
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already known or supposed to be known:
Un journal était sur une table. La table se trouvait au centre de la pièce. (We already talked about the table)
-a determined noun and can have a demonstrative or a possessive meaning:
Regarde le cadeau que je t'ai apporté. (Le has the same demonstrative meaning as this.)
Il lui serre la main. (La has the same possessive meaning as his .)
-used in a general sense:
Le chien est l'ami de l'homme.
Le, la, l', les, can precede an djective which is used in the same way as a common noun:
Je voudrais la robe rouge. = Je voudrais la rouge.
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Definite articles 
