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French definite articles

LESSON OBJECTIVES

• To learn about the definite articles in French.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

• What is a definite article? A word used to define a particular object or person.
• It is used in front of a noun, an adjective or a superlative.
• In English, there is one: the.
• In French, there are four: le, la, les, l'

PART 2: LES AND L'

• les is used in front of a plural noun, regardless of the gender of the noun.
  Examples: les tables (the tables), les chaises (the chairs), les voitures (the cars)

• l' is used in front of a word starting with a vowel or an h, regardless of the gender of the noun.
  Examples: l'arbre (the tree), l'hôpital (the hospital), l'école (the school)

PART 3: LE AND LA

• le is used in front of a masculine word.
  Examples: le cinéma (the cinema), le sac (the bag), le bateau (the boat), le stylo (the pen), le chocolat (the chocolate)

• la is used in front of a feminine word.
  Examples: la tomate (the tomato), la table (the table), la chaise (the chair), la voiture (the car), la cassette (the cassette), la carotte (the carrot)

• Tip: in many instances, a French word ending in e is feminine.

PART 4: A LITTLE GAME

What definite article would you put in front of the following words?

• banane
• porte
• ballons
• ballon
• tableau
• ordinateur
• livre
• verre
• téléphone
• télévision
• fille
• garçon
• femme
• homme

Answers: la banane, la porte, les ballons, le ballon, le tableau, l'ordinateur, le livre, le verre, le téléphone, la télévision, la fille, le garçon, la femme, l'homme.

PART 5: COUNTRIES

• The distinction masculine/feminine/plural also applies to countries.
  
  Examples:

• l'Angleterre (England)
• la France (France)
• la Belgique (Belgium)
• le Japon (Japan)
• le Portugal (Portugal)
• les États-Unis (US)