Spot the mistake: du, de la, des or le, la, les?
J'aime du chocolat? Je voudrais le pain? Tap the wrong article in eight sentences and learn when French says some (du) and when it says the (le).
- A2
- 8 sentences
- Tap the wrong word
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Use the partitive (du, de la, de l', des) for an unspecified amount you eat, buy or have: je voudrais du pain. Use the definite article (le, la, les) for likes, dislikes and things in general: j'aime le chocolat, je déteste les épinards. After a negative or a quantity, use de: pas de viande, beaucoup de légumes.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Tap the word that's wrong in each sentence.
I'd like some bread, please.
Buying some bread: partitive du.
I like dark chocolate.
Likes take the definite article: j'aime le chocolat.
She doesn't eat meat.
After a negative, de: pas de viande.
Shall we buy some cheese for tonight?
Fromage is singular and masculine: du fromage.
I hate spinach.
Dislikes take the definite article: les épinards.
Is there sugar in your coffee?
De + le is always du.
I eat lots of vegetables.
After a quantity, just de.
She bought apples at the market.
Pommes is plural: des pommes.
When do you use du, de la, des or le, la, les?
| Situation | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| some (amount) | du / de la / des | du pain, de l'eau |
| likes, general | le / la / les | j'aime le thé |
| after a negative | de / d' | pas de lait |
| after a quantity | de / d' | un kilo de pommes |
English often drops the article (I want bread, I like bread), but French always needs one, and it's different in each case. A quick test: if you can add 'some' in English, use du / de la / des. If you're talking about the thing in general, use le / la / les.
- Marchand
Bonjour ! Qu'est-ce qu'il vous faut ?
Hello! What do you need?
- Toi
Des tomates et du basilic, s'il vous plaît. J'adore les tomates en été !
Tomatoes and some basil, please. I love tomatoes in summer!
- Marchand
Et avec ceci ? Un peu de fromage ?
Anything else? A bit of cheese?