🥖 French Basic Grammar: Using De or Du in French
One of the most confusing points for beginners in French is knowing when to use de and when to use du. Both can mean of or some, but their usage depends on context and grammar rules.
This guide will explain the difference between de and du, with simple rules and examples.
1. The Basic Meaning of De
De is a preposition meaning of, from.
It can also appear in expressions like “a glass of water” or after certain verbs.
📌 Examples:
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un verre de vin → a glass of wine
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le livre de Marie → Marie’s book / the book of Marie
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Je viens de Paris. → I come from Paris
2. The Partitive Article: Du, De la, De l’, Des
When talking about an unspecified quantity (some, any), French uses the partitive article.
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du = de + le → some (masculine singular)
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de la = some (feminine singular)
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de l’ = some (before vowel or h)
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des = some (plural)
📌 Examples:
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Je mange du pain. → I’m eating (some) bread.
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Elle boit de la soupe. → She’s drinking (some) soup.
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*Il veut **de l’*eau. → He wants some water.
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Nous avons des amis. → We have some friends.
3. Negative Sentences Rule
In the negative form, du / de la / de l’ / des → become just de (d’).
📌 Examples:
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Je mange du pain. → Je ne mange pas de pain.
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Elle a des amis. → *Elle **n’a pas d’*amis.
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Il boit de la soupe. → Il ne boit pas de soupe.
⚠️ Exception: with the verb être, the article does not change.
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C’est du fromage. → Ce n’est pas du fromage.
4. De After Quantities
After words of quantity, you always use de (d’) (without article).
📌 Examples:
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beaucoup de travail → a lot of work
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un peu de sucre → a little sugar
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*trop **d’*argent → too much money
5. De in Fixed Expressions
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avoir besoin de → to need
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parler de → to talk about
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se souvenir de → to remember
Example:
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J’ai besoin de repos. → I need rest.
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Elle parle de son voyage. → She talks about her trip.
6. Examples in Sentences
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Je veux du café. → I want some coffee.
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Nous avons de la chance. → We are lucky (we have some luck).
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Il n’y a pas de problème. → There is no problem.
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Elle a beaucoup de travail. → She has a lot of work.
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Le sac de Paul est rouge. → Paul’s bag is red.
✅ Quick Recap
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De = of, from (basic preposition).
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Du / de la / de l’ / des = partitive articles = some, any.
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In negative sentences → they become de (d’).
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After quantities → always de (d’).
🎯 Practice Exercise
Choose the correct form (de, du, de la, de l’, des):
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Je veux ___ pain.
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Elle n’a pas ___ amis.
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Il boit un verre ___ jus d’orange.
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Nous mangeons ___ fromage.
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Elle a beaucoup ___ patience.
Answers:
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du
-
d’
-
de
-
du
-
de
Conclusion
Using de and du correctly in French is essential for talking about possession, origin, and quantities. Remember: du/de la/des means “some,” while de is used for possession, after quantities, and in negative sentences.
👉 Pro tip: Each time you learn a new French food word (pain, fromage, soupe), practice it with du/de la/des in both positive and negative forms.
TAGS: French de vs du grammar, French partitive articles explained, how to use de and du in French, French beginner grammar rules, French articles and quantities