An article is a word placed before a noun to indicate whether the noun refers to a specific person or thing or to an unspecified person or thing.
There are two types of articles: definite articles and indefinite articles.
The definite article refers to the specific object or person:
Le livre sur la table est
intéresssant.
(The book on the table is interesting.)
La pomme que je
mange est délicieuse.
(The apple I am eating is delicious.)
The indefinite article refers to an unspecified person or thing:
Il y a un livre
sur la table.
(There is a book on the table.)
Donnez-moi une
pomme.
(Give me an apple.)
French nouns are rarely used without an article. There are, however, quite a few exceptions to this rule.
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