Confusion with du, de la, de l', des The partitive articles (du, de la, de l' and des) can be identical in form to the contraction of "de + definite article" when dealing with quantities, adjectives and prepositional phrases. But they are separate elements of grammar? Is this correct?
If so, I've been incorrectly thinking that the partitive articles WERE those contractions in action.
A few questions arise,
1) is it correct that there are three meanings of "des" (not just two)?
- des, the partitive article (and presumably not a contraction of "de les"?)
- des, the indefinite article (not a contraction)
- des, the contraction of a phrase/quantity/adjective involving "...de les (specific plural noun)..."
2) is it correct that there are two meanings of "du" (not just one)?
- du, the partitive article
- du, the contraction of a phrase/quantity/adjective involving "...de le (specific singular masculine noun)..."
...and likewise for de la, de l'?
3) are the partitive articles meant to be thought of as a single grammatical unit and not as a contraction of the preposition "de" + definite article?
For reference, I consulted
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/de-vs-du-de-la-des-quantity/
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/partitive-article/
Hi,
In the example 'appelle-les' the e at the end of appelle is not pronounced.
However, the e is pronounced at the end of 'Regarde-les !' and 'Regarde-la !'
Could you please explain why this is.
Thank you
Do you guys have quizzes for these vocabulary sections?
I’m still struggling with the issue Adrienne raised. I get the “correct answer” but the Gruff says that it’s the option with only two que can only be used without a specific noun. But the example in the lesson clearly says Qu’est-ce que c’est un stylo is acceptable. I also got marked wrong on the baguette question.
Pourquoi "Moi aussi j'aime les salades" Elle référence des salades en générale non? Pas les salades spécifique?
cca
In my quiz I have a question:
Which of the following are correct?
la sœur
l'oncle
le écharpe
l'souris
And this lesson is mentioned as "explain this". Whilst the lesson really explains usage of le / la, in this case it does not make any sense because I previous lessons did not have either of those four words, so a student just doesn't know what those words mean.
Just a small typo here. It of course should be “about France” or “about the French”.
In the sentence "What do you miss the most?" the word "what" is the object of the verb. So it would be easy to think that the correct translation is "Qu'est-ce que te manque le plus?" However, in French the construction differs from English. The French construction is essentially "What is missing to you the most"? Hence "what" has become the subject of the verb and accordingly the correct translation is "Qu'est-ce qui te manque le plus?"
Can someone confirm that this analysis is correct please?
The partitive articles (du, de la, de l' and des) can be identical in form to the contraction of "de + definite article" when dealing with quantities, adjectives and prepositional phrases. But they are separate elements of grammar? Is this correct?
If so, I've been incorrectly thinking that the partitive articles WERE those contractions in action.
A few questions arise,
1) is it correct that there are three meanings of "des" (not just two)?
- des, the partitive article (and presumably not a contraction of "de les"?)
- des, the indefinite article (not a contraction)
- des, the contraction of a phrase/quantity/adjective involving "...de les (specific plural noun)..."
2) is it correct that there are two meanings of "du" (not just one)?
- du, the partitive article
- du, the contraction of a phrase/quantity/adjective involving "...de le (specific singular masculine noun)..."
...and likewise for de la, de l'?
3) are the partitive articles meant to be thought of as a single grammatical unit and not as a contraction of the preposition "de" + definite article?
For reference, I consulted
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/de-vs-du-de-la-des-quantity/
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/partitive-article/
Is there a rule as to whether à or de follows a verb?
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