Partitive Articles: Part 2

CONTENT
  1. Partitive Articles and Negation
  2. Partitive Articles and Preposition Sans
  3. Partitive Articles and Quantity

We have already learned the basics of using the partitive articles in this grammar point. Now, let's tackle some important exceptions.

Native

Translation

Il ne boit pas de café.

He doesn't drink coffee.

Partitive Articles and Negation

Rule 1: In negative expressions, we do not use the partitive articles (du, de la, des). Instead, the preposition de (or d’ before vowels and h muet) is used.

Native

Translation

Il mange de la viande.

He does eat meat.

vs.

Native

Translation

Il ne mange pas de viande.

He doesn’t eat meat.

Partitive Articles and Preposition Sans

Rule 2: We do not use the partitive articles (du, de la, des) with the preposition sans. The noun follows this preposition directly.

Native

Translation

Il mange son pain avec de la confiture, mais sans beure.

He eats his bread with jam, but without butter.

Partitive Articles and Quantity

Rule 3: After precise quantities, the partitive articles (du, de la, des) are not used. Expressions of quantity are always followed by the preposition de (or d’ before vowels and h muet).

Native

Translation

Il boit du vin.

He drinks wine.

But:

Native

Translation

Un litre de vin.

A liter of wine.

Une bouteille d’eau.

A bottle of water.

Beaucoup de chocolat.

Lots of chocolate.

Quiz

1/3

Il ne boit pas _ jus.

0

correct answers.