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Le, la, ��’ and les all mean ‘the’. Knowing which one to use depends on the gender of the noun, whether it starts with a vowel or a silent h-, and whether it is singular or plural.

A definite article is needed in French for expressions of liking, disliking and preferring. For example:

• J’aime les fraises. – I like strawberries.
• Je préfère le chocolat. – I prefer chocolate.
• Je n’aime pas les maths. – I don’t like maths.

When to use the definite article

Use the definite article when the noun is the first word or idea in the sentence in English or to express a generality. For example:

• Les chats dorment beaucoup. – Cats sleep a lot.
• Je pense que mes profs sont intelligents. – I think my teachers are intelligent.

Use the definite article with school subjects. For example:

• J’étudie ��’anglais. – I study English.
• Ma matière préférée, c’est ��’histoire. – My favourite subject is history.

Use the definite article with countries. For example:

• L’Espagne est un pays chaud. – Spain is a hot country.
• J’aime les États-Unis. – I like the United States.

Use the definite article with parts of the body. For example:

• J’ai les yeux bleus. – I have blue eyes.
• Ma mère a les cheveux noirs. – My mum has black hair.

Use the definite article in time phrases. For example:

• le weekend dernier – last weekend
• le lundi – on Mondays/every Monday

There is no definite article after expressions of quantity such as beaucoup de (a lot of), trop de (too much), plus de (more).

There is no definite article after negative expressions such as ne … pas de, ne … plus de, ne … jamais de. For example:

• Il y avait beaucoup d’enfants dans ��’école. – There were a lot of children in the school.
• Le prof nous donne trop de devoirs. – The teacher gives us too much homework.
• Je voudrais un peu plus de chocolat, s’il vous plait. – I would like a bit more chocolate, please.
• Je n’ai pas de chien. – I don’t have a dog.
• Il n’y a jamais d’argent dans mon portefeuille. – There is never any money in my wallet.