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L’article Défini

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Le (masculine)
La (feminine)
L’ (masculine or feminine before a vowel or mute h)
Les (plural)
Below are the common situations where you would use a definite article:
When expressing preference, this article is used with verbs such
as aimer (to love) and detester (to detest).
Je déteste l’école. (I hate school.)
J’aime le cinema. (I love movies.)
When referring to something known by the listener because it is
unique or the only one of its kind.
Le President arrive demain. (The President arrives
tomorrow.)
Le Pape voyagea en Amerique. (The Pope traveled to
America.)
When naming a category in general or a concept.
C’est la vie! (That’s life!)
L’habit ne fait pas le moine. (Clothes don’t make the
person.)
When referring to something made specific by the statement that
follows it.
Le cadeau que tu m’as donné est formidable. (The gift
you gave me is great.)
Le chien des voisins est un caniche. (The neighbor’s
dog is a poodle.)
When naming a geographical place.
L’Allemagne (Germany)
La Grande-Bretagne (Great Britain)
 

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L’article Indéfini
Un (masculine)
Une (feminine)
D’ (Before a noun beginning with a vowel or mute h sound)
De (negative construction)
Des (plural)
Here are the situations where you would use an indefinite article:
 
When referring to an unspecified person or object.
J’ai acheté un cadeau. (I bought a gift.)
Il veut une banana. (He wants a banana.)
J'ai acheté des pommes. (I bought some apples.)
When referring to just one of something
Il ya un homme dans la sale. (There is one man in the
room.)
J’ai une niece. (I have one niece.)
When an indefinite pronoun is used in a negative construction, it is changed
to “de”.
Example:
Je n'ai pas de pommes. (I don’t have any apples.)
Unlike in English, indefinite articles are not used when referring to a
person’s religion or profession.
Example:
Je suis dentist. (I am a dentist.)

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