Understanding the French Partitives

Partitives are studied in level A1.1

With nouns like milk, coffee, or tea that cannot be counted, in English we use the word some, any, or no article.

These nouns must be used with the partitive in French, and it cannot be omitted.

Before your class began, you must have heard your teacher say, “Est-ce que tu veux du thé ?” this is it.

note that de plus le = du and de plus les = des.

de l’ is used for masculine or feminine before a vowel in singular, Its plural is des.

Here are a few examples

J’ai de la soupe => il have some soupe

Elle veut du chocolat => She wants some chocolate

il boit de l’eau => He is drinking (some) water

Vous voulez des bananes => Do you want any bananas?

Nous avons des livres. =>We have some books.

Note that in general the partitive article is used in the singular. The plural des is the same as the plural indefinite article.

and here is a short online exercise to practice.