when learning french, has anyone had problems knowing when to use certain articles?

Question

im learning french and i am gettin confused on when to use les, des because although they may be in front of a word, it doesnt mean that it must be read in translation. help me

Answer 1

I teach French, so maybe I can help you.

First of all, use the definite article ("le", "la", "les) anytime you are identifying a specific person or thing. This is the same as using "the" in English:

Où sont les enfants? Where are the children?
Tu as le livre? Do you have the pen?
Le facteur est à la porte. The mailman is at the door.

When you're not identifying a specific person or thing and you're just talking about "a/an" or "some" or "any" of something, use the indefinite article ("un", "une", "des", "de"):

Tu as un stylo? Do you have a pen?
Il y a une fille à la porte. There's a girl at the door.
J'ai invité des Français. I invited some French people.
Tu invites des Français? Are you inviting any Frenchmen?
Je n'invite pas de Français. I'm not inviting any Frenchmen. (Only use "de" with negative sentences).

If you're talking about part of something (like part of a pie) or something hard to measure (like water), use the partitive article ("de la", "du", "des). This often corresponds to "some" or "any" in English, but it's also used when there would just be nothing at all in English, as follows:

Tu veux de la tarte? You want some pie?
Voici des biscuits. Here are some cookies.
Il mange du fromage. He's eating some cheese. OR He's eating cheese.
Il ne mange pas de fromage? He's not eating any cheese? OR He's not eating cheese?
Je n'ai pas acheté de biscuits. I didn't buy any cookies. OR I didn't buy cookies.

Finally, and this rule's a little trickier to remember, when you make statements of preference or dislike using verbs such as "aimer" "préférer" "adorer" & "détester", you always use the definite article with the object that follows (if it's a common noun), even though we don't use an article there in English at all.

J'aime les fraises. I like strawberries.
Nous adorons les enfants. We love children.
Je préfère le café au lait. I prefer coffee with milk.
Il déteste la grammaire! He hates grammar!


Hope that helps!

Answer 2

When you read French, just go with the flow and leave out words you don't need. (j'aime la glace means I like ice cream--you don't need the 'the' in English) or add words you need (j'aime écouter la musique. I like to listen to music. There's no word for the second 'to' in French. écouter just means 'to listen to'.
Usage; pretty much like English except:
Use le, la, l', les when you Like (L for like) or disLike something in general, or when you could add the phrase in general in English and it makes sense. J'aime la glace. I like ice cream (in general).
Use un/une when you do mean a/an, but leave it out before professions. Je suis professeur. I am a teacher. (not needed in French)
Use du, de la, de l', des when you want SOME OF THE noun. Je voudrais de la glace. I would like some (of the) ice cream. If you use 'une' it means one cone or dip, if you use la it adds the idea 'in general. Remember you can translate the 'd' articles as either some or of the or leave it out all together--whatever makes sense.
I hope I didn't answer with too many details to confuse you. Bon courage avec le français!

Answer 3

Des means "some of" as oposed to les, which means "those". The example that leaps to mind first is with food. If you say, "Je voudrais des haricots," you are asking for some beans. If you say, "Je voudrais les haricots," you're wanting all of them (you little pig, you.)

A lot of French is context. Look at the overall phrase and use which one feels right. I have similar problems with le and la, but I've discovered in speaking with native speakers and traveling in France that they won't spit on you if you mix them up from time to time. Do your best, and good luck!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

les= plural for "the", i.e, les americains
le = masculine singular for "the" ie, le voisin
la = feminine singular, ie, la pomme
un = masculine singular for "a" ie, un ami
une=feminine singular for "a" ie, une pomme (apple)
l' = liason of "le" or "la" ie, l'etudiant
de la= feminine singular for "from the...", or "of the..."
de+le becomes du= masculine singular equivilant from above
des= plural. when used in front of a plural noun, it can mean "some", "of" or "from".

If the article is plural like les or des, and you dont know its gender, look at the noun- masculine plural endings for nouns are simply "s", while feminine plural endings are "es".
Articles tend to agree with its noun it number and/or gender.


Even if it doesnt have to be read in translation, as long as it helps you understand what it's saying idiomatically rather than word for word, you'll be fine.

Answer 6

i didnt have problems, les is for "the" or it's something that you know, des is for "a" something that you havent seen before or dont know.
most of the times you use les or "the" in the begining of the sentence.