This introduction covers Gender & Articles — Le genre et les articles within Gender and articles: le, la, un, une, du for GCSE French. Revise Gender and articles: le, la, un, une, du in Core Grammar Toolkit for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 1 of 6 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🔑 Gender & Articles — Le genre et les articles
Every single noun in French is either masculine or feminine — and getting the article right is the very first thing an examiner checks. Choose the wrong article and your adjectives, pronouns, and agreements all collapse like dominoes. Master this and you unlock accurate, fluent French that earns marks across every assessment objective.
Practice questions for Gender and articles: le, la, un, une, du
Which definite article do you use with a masculine singular noun in French?
Which form of the definite article is used before a noun beginning with a vowel, such as 'école'?
Quick recall flashcards
de l'
some / of the (before vowel or silent h) -- de l'eau (some water), de l'argent (some money), pres de l'hopital (near the hospital).
au (= a + le)
to the / at the (masculine) -- je vais au marche (I go to the market). This contraction is MANDATORY; you cannot say 'a le'.