French · A1 · Grammar
Un, Une and Des: French Indefinite Articles
Use un for a masculine singular countable noun, une for a feminine singular countable noun, and des for unspecified plural items. Start by asking whether the listener can identify the exact object. In Je cherche une pharmacie, you want a pharmacy, and any suitable one will do.
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Examples
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un livre | a book |
| une bouteille | a bottle |
| des clés | some keys |
New and known objects
J’ai trouvé un billet introduces a ticket. Le billet est dans mon sac refers back to that ticket. The article helps the listener track whether you are introducing something or talking about something already identified.
A useful negative pattern
When the verb is avoir or a similar verb, un, une and des generally become de after ne…pas. J’ai des billets becomes Je n’ai pas de billets. After être, the article normally stays: Ce n’est pas un billet.
Try it
Say “I have a reservation”, then “I don’t have a reservation”.
Show answer
J’ai une réservation. Je n’ai pas de réservation.
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