lvlyleonor

[wanton scarab]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[drowsy seal]

explain

[charred valley]

du, de la, le, la

I dont understand

why I have to use du to some foods and le to others

like

l'homme mange le poisson

why not l'homme mange du poisson

or like

le garçon mange du fromage

why not le garçon mange le fromage

its so confusing

[hasty eagle]

the man eats the fish
vs.
the mans eats (some) fish

the boy eats (some) cheese
vs.
the boy eats the cheese

[terse zephyr]

To sum it up:
The food is countable? You can use a definite article or an indefinite one.
The food is uncountable and a part of the whole thing? Partitive article then.
The food is taken in general, like it's the whole thing? Definite article then.