Partitive Articles

Apart from definite and indefinite articles, there are also partitive articles in French.

Let's learn how to use these.

What Are Partitive Articles

Rule 1: A partitive article is used with uncountable nouns. It’s formed with the preposition “de” + a definite article. It is used to express an indefinite quantity. We could translate it to "some."

There are several partitive articles: du (de+le), de la, d', and des.

When to Use Partitive Nouns

Rule 2: du or de la is used before uncountable nouns, depending on the gender of the noun.

Rule 3: du or de la will become de l’ when it is followed by a word beginning with a vowel or a muet h.

Rule 4: des is used before countable nouns, independent of the gender of the noun.

Exception

French do not use the partitive articles (du, de la, des) with verbs that express opinion.
Instead, they use the definite article (le, la, les) as a reference to an entire category of something.