When is "de" needed?

Joakim R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

When is "de" needed?

Look at these sentences: Le roi a la pouvoir. Pour faire de la fusion nucléaire une source d'énergie, il faut que... How come one needs "de" in front of "la", but the other doesn't? Is there some handy rule I can apply?
Asked 8 years ago
LauraNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Joakim,

This is the difference between the definite article (le [not la] pouvoir) and the partitive article (de la fusion).

When talking about all of something or the general sense, like "power," you need the definite article.

When talking about some of something, like fusion, you need the partitive article.

When is "de" needed?

Look at these sentences: Le roi a la pouvoir. Pour faire de la fusion nucléaire une source d'énergie, il faut que... How come one needs "de" in front of "la", but the other doesn't? Is there some handy rule I can apply?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Let me take a look at that...