Why do we use partitive articles for 'faire' but definite articles for 'jouer à'?

Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Why do we use partitive articles for 'faire' but definite articles for 'jouer à'?

Il fait du tennis (fait + de le)

Il joue au tennis (joue à + le)

I thought whether we use partitve articles should depends on the thing we modify instead of the verb

Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Some verbs take à, others de as preposition. No rhyme, no reason. It's the way it is. 
Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

But 'faire' does not take any preposition here, "du" (tennis) is partitive articles.

I do not understand why "tennis" (and other sports) use partitive articles when the verb is "faire", but definite articles when the verb is "jouer à"

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Nothing to understand, here, Joan. I am sorry to say but that's just the way it is.

Faire + de + le = faire du.
Jouer + à + le = jouer au.

Why do we use partitive articles for 'faire' but definite articles for 'jouer à'?

Il fait du tennis (fait + de le)

Il joue au tennis (joue à + le)

I thought whether we use partitve articles should depends on the thing we modify instead of the verb

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