New
New
Food and drink: definite and partitive articles
Learning outcomes
I can use articles with specified and unspecified quantities to describe everyday life.
I can confidently pronounce [ill/ille].
Lesson 6 of 10
New
New
- Year 8
Food and drink: definite and partitive articles
Learning outcomes
I can use articles with specified and unspecified quantities to describe everyday life.
I can confidently pronounce [ill/ille].
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- [ill/ille] sounds like 'famille' with some exceptions (mille/Lille/tranquille/ville).
- Double 'l' after any other vowel is pronounced like a normal 'l' e.g. 'salle'.
- Change the partitive article (du/de la/de l') to de/d' after quantity expressions and negatives.
- Articles can't be omitted like in English. Use the definite article with specific nouns/giving opinions.
- Use the partitive article for non-specific and uncountable nouns.
Keywords
[ill/ille] - pronounced as in 'fille'
Partitive article - refers to parts of things; often means 'some' in English
Common misconception
Articles can be missed out in French like in English.
Articles can't be omitted in French. Use the definite article with specific nouns/giving opinions and the partitive article with uncountable and non-specific nouns.
If you think students need more scaffolding and modelling, you could work through task C3a1 as a class with students working independently on C3a2.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the different parts of the verb 'boire' - to drink.
Match the different parts of the verb 'boire' - to drink.
Q2.What is an uncountable noun?
What is an uncountable noun?
A noun which is too big to count.
A noun which is too small to count.
Q3.Put the words below into a sentence which means, 'There isn't any milk in the tea.'
Put the words below into a sentence which means, 'There isn't any milk in the tea.'
Q4.Which sentence means; 'There isn't any meat in the recipe'?
Which sentence means; 'There isn't any meat in the recipe'?
Il n'y a pas de pain dans la recette.
Il y a du lait dans la recette.
Il n'y a pas de fromage dans la recette.
Il y a de la viande dans la recette.
Q5.Which is the odd one out?
Which is the odd one out?
famille
cheville
fille
grille
Q6.What word fills the gap? All of these nouns are : rice, music, sand, water.
What word fills the gap? All of these nouns are : rice, music, sand, water.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the French and the English verbs.
Match the French and the English verbs.
Q2.Match the French and the English .
Match the French and the English .
Q3.Which is the correct French for 'I eat a kilo of bread.'?
Which is the correct French for 'I eat a kilo of bread.'?
Je mange un kilo du pain.
Je mange un kilo de la pain.
Je mange un kilo de l' pain.
Je mange un kilo du pain.
Q4.Which three words have the same sound for 'll' as 'famille'?
Which three words have the same sound for 'll' as 'famille'?
mille
ville
Q5.If you want to ask someone if they like bread, what would you say?
If you want to ask someone if they like bread, what would you say?
Q6.Put the sentences into the correct order to translate this passage.
Noura wants to share her dinner. Noura gives some fish to Apollon. But Apollon is a dog. Dogs prefer meat. Cats prefer fish.
Put the sentences into the correct order to translate this passage.
Noura wants to share her dinner. Noura gives some fish to Apollon. But Apollon is a dog. Dogs prefer meat. Cats prefer fish.
