French Partitive Articles — Du, De La, Des
Partitive articles express "some" or "an unspecified amount of." In English, we often leave this word out entirely ("I want coffee"), but in French you must always include it: "Je veux du café." This is one of the trickiest concepts for English speakers at A1.
The Partitive Articles
| Gender | Partitive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | du | du pain (some bread) |
| Feminine | de la | de la salade (some salad) |
| Before vowel/h | de l' | de l'eau (some water) |
| Plural | des | des fruits (some fruits) |
When to use them: Use partitive articles when talking about an unspecified quantity of something, especially with food, drinks, and uncountable nouns. Think of it as "some" — even when you wouldn't say "some" in English.
Example Sentences
- Je mange du fromage. — I eat (some) cheese.
- Tu veux de la confiture? — Do you want (some) jam?
- Il boit de l'eau. — He drinks (some) water.
- Nous achetons des légumes. — We buy (some) vegetables.
- Elle prend du café le matin. — She has (some) coffee in the morning.
- Vous voulez de la soupe? — Do you want (some) soup?
Partitive vs. Definite vs. Indefinite
Choosing the right article depends on what you mean:
| Article | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| le/la/les (definite) | General / all of it | J'aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate in general.) |
| du/de la/des (partitive) | Some / unspecified amount | Je mange du chocolat. (I eat some chocolate.) |
| un/une (indefinite) | One / a specific count | Je veux un chocolat. (I want one/a chocolate.) |
Negation: De Replaces the Partitive
In negative sentences, du/de la/de l'/des all become de (or d' before a vowel):
- Je mange du pain. → Je ne mange pas de pain.
- Il boit de la bière. → Il ne boit pas de bière.
- Elle a des amis. → Elle n'a pas d'amis.
Exception: After être, the article doesn't change in negation: "C'est du lait" → "Ce n'est pas du lait."
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the partitive entirely: "Je veux café" → Incorrect. You must say "Je veux du café."
- Using du for feminine nouns: "Du salade" → Incorrect. Salade is feminine: "de la salade."
- Keeping the partitive in negation: "Je ne mange pas du pain" → Incorrect. It becomes "Je ne mange pas de pain."
- Confusing des (partitive) and des (contraction): "Des" can mean "some" (partitive plural) or be a contraction of "de + les."
Related Grammar
- French Negation — ne...pas changes partitive articles to de
- Être, Avoir, Aller — essential verbs you'll use with partitives
- French Near Future — aller + infinitif
Practice Partitive Articles Interactively
Flamingua teaches partitive articles through food and shopping conversations. Order at a café, buy groceries, and describe meals — all with AI practice and feedback.
