1)Forms of the definite articles
| SINGULAR |
Le garçon |
Le + a masculine noun in the singular |
| La fille |
La + a feminine noun in the singular |
| L' |
avion
armoire |
L' + a masculine or feminine noun in the singular which begins with a vowel or mute h : l'hôtel, l’horreur
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| PLURAL |
Les garcons
Les filles |
Les + a noun in the plural (masculine or feminine) |
2)Uses:
The French definite articles (le, la, l', les) generally have the same uses as the English definite article "the" .
They precede a common noun which is:
- already known or supposed to be known:
Example: 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:
Example: Regarde le cadeau que je t'ai apporté. ("Le" has the same demonstrative meaning as "This".)
Example: Il lui serre la main. ("La" has the same possessive meaning as "his" .)
- used in a general sense:
Example: Le chien est l'ami de l'homme.
- Notice that: Le, la, l', les can precede an adjective which is used in the same way as a common noun:
Example:Je voudrais la robe rouge. = Je voudrais la rouge. (I would want the red dress. I would want the red one)
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