Contracted Articles in French

Contracted articles or les articles contractés in French are formed when certain prepositions (mainly “à” and “de”) combine with definite articles (“le” and “les”). You can revise the definite and indefinite articles in French. This contraction is mandatory in French and helps to improve the flow of speech and writing.

The main contractions are:

  1. à + le = au
  2. à + les = aux
  3. de + le = du
  4. de + les = des

Note: Contractions do not occur with “la” or with “l'” (used before vowels or silent h).

Usage:

  1. “au” (à + le): Used for masculine singular nouns 

Example: Je vais au marché. (I am going to the market.)

  1. “aux” (à + les): Used for plural nouns (both masculine and feminine) 

Example: Elle parle aux enfants. (She is talking to the children.)

  1. “du” (de + le): Used for masculine singular nouns 

Example: La maison du professeur. (The teacher’s house.)

  1. “des” (de + les): Used for plural nouns (both masculine and feminine) 

Example: Le livre des élèves. (The students’ book.)

Important notes:

  • These contractions are mandatory when the conditions are met.
  • “de la” and “à la” for feminine singular nouns are not contracted.
  • Before vowels or silent h, use “de l'” and “à l'” instead of contracting.

In English, we do not have an exact equivalent to French contracted articles. Instead, we typically use prepositions followed by articles separately. Here are the French contractions and their English equivalents:

  1. au (à + le) = to the / at the (masculine singular)
  2. aux (à + les) = to the / at the (plural)
  3. du (de + le) = of the / from the (masculine singular)
  4. des (de + les) = of the / from the (plural)

Examples with English equivalents:

  1. au (à + le):
    • Je vais au cinema. = I am going to the cinema.
    • Il joue au football. = He plays football. (Note: In English, we often omit “the” with sports)
  2. aux (à + les):
    • Elle parle aux etudiants. = She is talking to the students.
    • Nous allons aux Etats-Unis. = We are going to the United States.
  3. du (de + le):
    • Le livre du professeur. = The professor’s book. or The book of the professor.
    • Je viens du travail. = I am coming from work. 
  4. des (de + les):
    • Les chiens des policiers. = The dogs of the policemen.
    • Il parle des problèmes. = He is talking about the problems.

Important distinctions:

  1. With feminine singular nouns, there’s no contraction in French:
    • à la = to the / at the (feminine singular) Example: Je vais à la banque. = I am going to the bank.
    • de la = of the / from the (feminine singular) Example: Le sac de la fille. = The girl’s bag. or The bag of the girl.
  2. Before vowels or silent ‘h’, use l’ instead of le/la, and do not contract:
    • à l’ = to the / at the Example: Je vais à l’hôpital. = I am going to the hospital.
    • de l’ = of the / from the Example: Le nom de l’homme. = The man’s name. Or The name of the man.

In English, we don’t combine “to the” into one word like French does with “au/aux”, nor do we combine “of the” like French does with “du/des”. This is why French contracted articles can sometimes be challenging for English speakers. Understanding these equivalences can help you recognize when to use contracted articles in French. 

Exercises

1: Fill in the blanks with the correct contracted article (au, aux, du, des).

  1. Je vais _____ cinéma ce soir.
  2. Elle parle _____ professeurs de l’école.
  3. C’est la voiture _____ directeur.
  4. Nous allons _____ États-Unis cet été.
  5. Le bureau _____ médecin est fermé aujourd’hui.

2: Translate the following phrases into French, using contracted articles where necessary.

  1. I am going to the restaurant.
  2. The keys of the car.
  3. She is talking to the neighbors.
  4. The taste of the wine.
  5. We are going to the museums.

3: Correct the mistakes in the following sentences (if any).

  1. Je vais à le parc.
  2. C’est le livre de les étudiants.
  3. Elle parle aux filles.
  4. Nous allons du Canada.
  5. Le chapeau du femme.

4: Choose the correct contracted article.

  1. J’habite (à le / au / à la) centre-ville.
  2. C’est le vélo (du / de la / des) enfant.
  3. Nous allons (à la / au / aux) plages cet été.
  4. Le professeur parle (du / de la / des) examens.
  5. Je vais (au / à la / à l’) hôpital.

5: Complete the sentences using the appropriate contracted article and the noun in parentheses.

  1. Les jouets _____ _____ sont dans le salon. (enfants)
  2. Nous allons _____ _____ ce week-end. (zoo)
  3. C’est la voiture _____ _____. (policier)
  4. Elle parle _____ _____ de l’université. (étudiants)
  5. Le bureau _____ _____ est au deuxième étage. (directrice)

Château de Versailles

The Palace of Versailles, or Château de Versailles in French, is one of the most famous and opulent royal residences in the world. Located about 20 kilometers southwest of Paris, it stands as a symbol of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.

Originally built as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII in 1624, it was transformed into a magnificent palace by his son, Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. The palace became the seat of French political power and the official residence of the French monarchy from 1682 until the start of the French Revolution in 1789. Key features of the palace include:

  1. The Hall of Mirrors: A stunning gallery featuring 357 mirrors that reflect the light from 17 arch windows overlooking the gardens.
  2. The Royal Chapel: An elegant two-story structure with intricate designs and paintings.
  3. The King’s and Queen’s State Apartments: Lavishly decorated living quarters for the monarchs.
  4. The Gardens: Covering over 800 hectares, they feature meticulously manicured lawns, fountains, and sculptures.
  5. The Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon: Smaller palaces within the grounds, used as retreats by the royal family.

Today, the Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually. It serves as a museum of French history and showcases the art, architecture, and landscaping of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The palace not only represents the pinnacle of French Baroque architecture but also played a significant role in French history, including being the site where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I in 1919.

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