Definite article

See also: Article

In Grammar, the definite article is a subcategory of definite determinant, which takes part in actualization of the Nom core by indicating, either that the referent (the thing, the animal, the person in question) is known agents of the stating, or that satellite will follow (qualifying adjective, possessive phrase, relative Proposition…) who will allow the interlocutor to precisely identify this represented.

  • the definite article is thus the standard tool of the complete determination. He is thus opposed to the indefinite article and the partitive article, which them, presuppose that the referent is not known interlocutors:

Une swallow came. L'hirondelle returned.

Simple form

The definite article knows two forms in the singular (“ the ” for the masculine, and “ the ” for the female one); and only one in the plural (form epicene) (“ ”):

La house about which I speak to you… /Le dog of which it is question… /Les children which you know… /Les flowers which you gathered…

  • the singular definite article is elided in front of a word starting phonetically with a vowel: “ the ” and “ the ” then become “ the ”:

the butcher, the bouchère, l'autre to stop, l'autre bouchère…
L'épicier, l'épicière, the same grocer, the same épicière…

  • the singular definite article can also indicate a species, and not only one individual:

Le dog is the best friend of l'homme.
It is not a question here of a dog and a man private individuals, but of the canine species (all dogs), as well as mankind (all the human ones).

Form contracted

The definite articles “ the ” and “ the ” take a contracted form when they are preceded by the Préposition S “ with ” or “ of ”:

- With “ with ”, “ the ” becomes “ with the ”, and “ the ” becomes “ with the ”:

a tart au pumpkin. /A tart aux prunes.

- With “ of ”, “ the ” becomes “ ”, and “ the ” becomes “ ”:

the house du close. /The house des close.

  • the definite articles “ the ” and “ the ” never contract when they are preceded by the prepositions “ with ” or “ of ”:

Paul goes to la beach. Paul goes to l'école.

  • the contracted article “ of the ” must be distinguished from the partitive article of the same form; and the contracted article “ of the ” must be distinguished from the partitive article and the indefinite article of the same form:

I like the perfume du lilac. I gathered du lilac.

the article “ of the ” is contracted in the first example (preposition + definite article), and partitive in the second.
I like the perfume des flowers. I gathered des flowers.
the article “ of the ” is contracted in the first example (preposition + definite article), and indefinite in the second.

  • Formerly, the definite article “ the ” contracted moreover with the preposition “ in ” ( in + the = “ be ”). One still finds the trace of this phenomenon in certain solidified honorary titles, such as:

Professor ès letters. Doctor ès sciences…

Form bound with “known as”

That it simple or is contracted, the definite article can bind with the last participle “ known as ” to produce the following forms:

- with the singular masculine: “ the aforementioned ” (contracted forms: “ to that the ” and “ of known as the ”);
- with the female singular: “ the aforementioned ”;
- with the plural masculine: “ the aforementioned ” (contracted forms: “ with known as the ” and “ of the aforesaid ”);
- with female plural: “ the aforementioned ”.

  • In these various forms, frequently employed in the administrative language, the definite article in the value of a anaphoric representative and approaches a Demonstrative adjective :

Following the recent innondations, a repairing of the bridge of the Republic having to be carried out urgently, the passage of the motor vehicles will be interdict on ledit bridge during fifteen days as from the date of this decree.
For “ this bridge ”, “ the bridge from which one comes to speak ”.

When it is placed in front of a proper name, the definite article marks the very large respect which a celebrity inspires: " Callas" ; Or on the contrary the extrème familiarity with regard to a person or of an animal: " Noiraude".

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