teodastic

[random musk]

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.

[dry trellis]

Three main concepts:

• Partitive (some) - de la, du, de l', des
• Definite article (the/general concept) - le, la, l', les
• Preposition "de" (~of, from, about) + definite article (de la, du, de l', des)
  (Additionally, preposition "de" + partitive = de)

[fickle oasis]

When do i know if i should use le/la or du/de la? does it depend on the verb?

Like

[dry trellis]

Depends on the gender of the noun

[fickle oasis]

ah

Hold up

[dry trellis]

All nouns in french are either masculine or feminine

[fickle oasis]

Preferez-vous ….. gateau au chocolat

what do i use here?

[dry trellis]

Depends on the gender of gâteau

Do you know whether gâteau is masculine or feminine?

[fickle oasis]

Nope, they didn’t tell me

They just said

“Complétez avec les articles définis ou partitifs:”

[dry trellis]

So, generally you will learn the noun with an article or an adjective that makes it obvious whether the noun is masculine or feminine

[fickle oasis]

Ah, but in this case what is the answer?

[dry trellis]

If you're unsure, you can look it up on google or in a dictionary
I usually just type "<noun> def"

Gâteau is masculine

[fickle oasis]

Ah alright thanks