Articles in abstract and fixed uses

At this level, distinguish what an article means in context from what a fixed construction requires. Another article may produce valid French with a different interpretation.

Qualities and their descriptions

Compare Elle a de l’autorité with Elle a une autorité tranquille. The first presents the quality; the second characterizes its manifestation.

An adjective does not automatically require un or une. The context can also identify a quality: la précision de ce rapport. Check meaning as well as gender and number.

General topics and identified referents

Parler de politique presents a general topic. Débattre de l’économie du pays identifies the economy being discussed. Do not mechanically remove every article after de.

For an unspecified amount, use a partitive: boire du thé, faire de la musique. In jouer du violon, however, du is the contraction of the preposition de and the definite article le.

Constructions without an article

Learn faire preuve de patience, avoir besoin de patience, manquer de temps and être plein de monde as constructions. These general complements have no article.

Material can be expressed in more than one way: fait de pierre and fait en pierre are both possible. The preposition is not an article.

Expressions with a definite article

• Prendre la parole: begin speaking in a discussion.
• Avoir l’habitude de quelque chose: be accustomed to it.
• Avoir l’audace de demander, prendre l’initiative, mettre l’accent sur la qualité.

Prendre une initiative is also valid: it presents an initiative as one action. The article changes the framing. Before a vowel or mute h, le and la become l’.