What are French partitive articles?

French partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) are used to express an undefined quantity of something. They're often translated as "some" or "any" in English, but their usage is more nuanced in French.

When to use partitive articles

Partitive articles are typically used:

1. With uncountable nouns
2. When referring to part of a whole
3. With verbs expressing consumption or need

Forms of partitive articles

• du (masculine singular)
• de la (feminine singular)
• de l' (before vowels or silent h)
• des (plural)

Examples in context

Here are some examples to illustrate their usage:

• Je bois du café. (I drink some coffee.)
• Elle mange de la salade. (She eats some salad.)
• Nous avons besoin d'eau. (We need some water.)
• Ils achètent des fruits. (They buy some fruits.)

Exceptions and special cases

1. After negations, partitive articles usually change to "de":

   • Je ne bois pas de café. (I don't drink any coffee.)

2. With specific quantities, use "de" instead:

   • Une tasse de café (A cup of coffee)

3. Some expressions don't use partitive articles:

   • avoir faim (to be hungry)
   • avoir soif (to be thirsty)

Understanding partitive articles is crucial for expressing quantities in French naturally. Practice using them in various contexts to improve your French language skills.