Trying to learn French on my own through those self-teaching softwares and Internet sources since my new brother-in-law is Algerian-French. So far, my guess about "du" is it applies to things/objects; I heard "soupe du jour", "produit du Canada", "Cafe du Monde" (a restaurant in New Orleans), etc... My guess about "de" is it applies to person/people; I've heard "belle de jour", etc... Are my guesses accurate?
2007-03-08 11:26:49 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"du" is used to replace "de le", and is seen in front of masculine noun (since "le" is the article)
"de" is used for people (names)
Ex: Ce sac est de Nathalie. (This bag is Nathalie's.)
"de" is also used in the phrases: "de la" and "de l'"
"de la" is used for feminine nouns.
Ex: Je fais souvent de la natation. (I often swim.)
"de l'" is used for nouns (masc. OR fem.) that begin with nouns.
Ex: On fait de l'aérobic? (How about doing aerobics?)
"des" is used for plural nouns, and combines "de les". It usually doesn't translate to a word in English sentences, but if it is, then it means "some"
Ex: Tu as besoin des bonbons? (Do you need (some) candy?)
2007-03-08 11:55:45 · answer #1 · answered by Devin O 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
du=de le
2007-03-08 19:31:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"de" is "of"
"du" is a contraction of "de le;" ("of the" using the masculine definite article) "de la" does not get contracted, not does "de l' (L apostraphe)" but "de les" becomes "des"
2007-03-08 19:32:00 · answer #3 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i THINK du means some of when a word is masculine....(du dentifrice) (of toothpaste)
Feminine:
de la creme solaire (some sunscreen)
the 1st e on creme has an accent grave
2007-03-08 19:31:49 · answer #4 · answered by ceci 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
de means of.
du means of the.
There...alot simpler than some of those other ones....I got confused reading them and I speak French....LOL.
2007-03-08 21:50:35 · answer #5 · answered by apple_dax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋