Lesson 8 Use of Definite Articles

•With nouns in a general or abstract sense

J'adore les chiens. (I love dogs.)

•With titles of rank or profession, except when directly talking to a person the person

le docteur Jean (Dr. John)
Bonjour, docteur Jean. (Hello, Dr. John.)

•With days of the week in a plural sense

Le lundi je travaille. (On Mondays, I work.)

•With dates

C'est le dix août. (It's August 10.)

•With most geographical names of countries and continents

La France est super. (France is super.)

•With common expressions of time or place

le soir (in the evening)


The definite article is used to refer to specific objects, people, and events which have been defined by the speaker or the context (just as in Engliish):
•Voici le livre que j'ai acheté. Here's the book I bought.

It is also used to refer to general categories or to abstract concepts (usually ommited in English):
•Le vrai courage est rare. True courage is rare.

•With names of languages, except after palare en de

•With parts of the body when the possessor is clear