Partitive articles are used for an unspecified quantity — some bread, some water. English often drops the word entirely ('I eat bread'), but French always needs an article.
Forms
The partitive changes based on gender and the first letter of the noun.
| Masculine | Feminine | Before vowel/h | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partitive | du | de la | de l' | des |
| Example | du pain | de la confiture | de l'eau | des fruits |
When to use it
Use the partitive when you mean 'some' or an unspecified amount — especially with food, drinks, and abstract things (du courage, de la patience).
- Je mange du fromage. — I eat (some) cheese.
- Elle boit de l'eau. — She drinks (some) water.
- Il a de la chance. — He is lucky. (lit. he has some luck)
Negative → de / d'
In the negative, all partitive forms become 'de' (or 'd'' before a vowel).
- Je mange du pain. → Je ne mange pas de pain. — I don't eat bread.
- Elle a des amis. → Elle n'a pas d'amis. — She doesn't have friends.
Je voudrais ___ pain, s'il vous plaît.
Il boit ___ eau.
Elle mange ___ confiture.
Nous achetons ___ fruits au marché.
Choose: Tu as ___ patience ?
Put in the negative
Je mange du chocolat.
Put in the negative
Elle a des idées.
Il n'y a pas ___ lait dans le frigo.
Which is correct?
Au petit-déjeuner, je prends ___ café et ___ tartines.