Contracted articles: au, aux

• With the preposition "à" (= at), the masculine and singular definite article "le" makes a new definite article "au" which is called contracted article.

Example: Je suis resté au bureau. (I stayed at the office.)

*Notice that before vowel or mute h, "au" becomes "à l' ": Ex: Le taxi va à l'aéroport. (The taxi is going to the airport.)

• With the preposition "à" (=at), the singular and feminine definite article "la" does not make a contracted article and you can say: "à la" + singular noun in the feminine.

Example: Elle adore aller à la plage. (She is found of going to the beach.)

*Notice that la becomes l' before vowel or mute h: Ex: La petite fille va à l'école. (The girl is going to school.)

• With the preposition à (=at), the plural definite article les makes a new definite article aux which is called contracted article.

Example: Ils vivent aux Etats-Unis. (They are living in the in the USA.)