This key facts covers Key rules at a glance 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 5 of 6 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key rules at a glance
- Every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine — there is no neutral. Learn each noun WITH its article (e.g. le problème, not just problème).
- Definite articles (le/la/les/l'): use for specific things, general statements, languages, and countries.
- Indefinite articles (un/une/des): use for "a / an / some" when introducing something unspecified.
- Partitive articles (du/de la/de l'/des): use with uncountable nouns for "some" — food, drink, abstract qualities.
- After negatives: un/une/des/du/de la/de l' all become de (or d') — definite articles do NOT change.
- Elision (l'): le and la contract to l' before any word starting with a vowel or mute h.
- Contractions (au/aux/du/des): à + le = au; à + les = aux; de + le = du; de + les = des — these are mandatory, never write à le or de le.
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'.