How do I revise Grammar – AS Level: Articles for WJEC A-Level?

Systematically check whether a noun needs an article by identifying if it is a general concept, a specific reference, or an unspecified quantity before finalizing any written answer.

What exam tips are there for Grammar – AS Level: Articles? (2)

In translation tasks, pay attention to verbs of liking/disliking which take the definite article (e.g., aimer le chocolat) even when English uses no article, to avoid literal translation errors.

What exam tips are there for Grammar – AS Level: Articles? (3)

Memorize key prepositions that trigger article omission or contraction (e.g., à + le = au, de + le = du, en for feminine countries) as these are common testing points.

What mistakes should I avoid in Grammar – AS Level: Articles?

Confusing the partitive article with the indefinite article, leading to errors like *J’ai un pain* instead of *J’ai du pain* when referring to an undefined quantity.

What are common errors in Grammar – AS Level: Articles exams? (2)

Forgetting to change des to de before adjectives placed before plural nouns (e.g., *de jolies robes* not *des jolies robes*).

Grammar – AS Level: Articles

WJEC

A-Level

At AS Level, a solid grasp of French articles (definite: le, la, l', les; indefinite: un, une, des; partitive: du, de la, de l', des) is essential for accurate written and spoken communication. This subtopic focuses on their correct use and omission, particularly in contexts like general truths, quantities, after prepositions, and with geographical names, which are key for achieving grammatical precision in coursework and exams.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

In French, articles are small but essential words that indicate the gender and number of nouns, as well as specificity. For AS Level students following the WJEC A-Level specification, mastering articles is crucial for accurate sentence construction and comprehension. French has three types of articles: definite (le, la, l', les), indefinite (un, une, des), and partitive (du, de la, de l', des). Each serves a distinct function, and their usage often differs from English, requiring careful attention.

Articles are not just grammatical formalities; they carry meaning. For example, 'Je mange du pain' (I eat some bread) uses the partitive article to indicate an unspecified quantity, while 'Je mange le pain' (I eat the bread) refers to a specific loaf. Misusing articles can lead to confusion or grammatical errors that examiners penalise. This topic builds on basic noun gender and number knowledge and is foundational for more advanced grammar, such as using articles with prepositions (e.g., 'au', 'aux') and in negative constructions.

In the WJEC AS exam, articles appear in translation exercises, reading comprehension, and writing tasks. A solid grasp of articles will help you avoid common pitfalls like omitting articles where they are required in French (e.g., with general statements: 'J'aime le chocolat') or using the wrong article after expressions of quantity. This topic also connects to the study of pronouns and determiners, making it a key building block for fluency.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for consistently using the definite article with nouns expressing general concepts or abstract qualities (e.g., La patience est une vertu).
Credit for correct application of the partitive article to indicate an unspecified quantity (e.g., Je voudrais du pain) and its transformation to de in negative constructions (e.g., Je n'ai pas de pain).
Award credit for accurate omission of the article after prepositions with proper names and certain fixed expressions (e.g., en France, par avion).
Credit for demonstrating understanding of article usage with parts of the body using reflexive verbs (e.g., Elle se lave les mains) versus non-reflexive contexts.
Award credit for correct rendering of English 'some/any' using the appropriate partitive article (du, de la, de l', des) or de in negative and quantitative phrases.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for consistently using the definite article with nouns expressing general concepts or abstract qualities (e.g., La patience est une vertu).
Credit for correct application of the partitive article to indicate an unspecified quantity (e.g., Je voudrais du pain) and its transformation to de in negative constructions (e.g., Je n'ai pas de pain).
Award credit for accurate omission of the article after prepositions with proper names and certain fixed expressions (e.g., en France, par avion).
Credit for demonstrating understanding of article usage with parts of the body using reflexive verbs (e.g., Elle se lave les mains) versus non-reflexive contexts.
Award credit for correct rendering of English 'some/any' using the appropriate partitive article (du, de la, de l', des) or de in negative and quantitative phrases.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Systematically check whether a noun needs an article by identifying if it is a general concept, a specific reference, or an unspecified quantity before finalizing any written answer.
💡In translation tasks, pay attention to verbs of liking/disliking which take the definite article (e.g., aimer le chocolat) even when English uses no article, to avoid literal translation errors.
💡Memorize key prepositions that trigger article omission or contraction (e.g., à + le = au, de + le = du, en for feminine countries) as these are common testing points.
💡When proofreading, scrutinize negative sentences to ensure de replaces du/de la/des only when it follows pas/plus/jamais directly and the noun is the direct object of a negated verb.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing the partitive article with the indefinite article, leading to errors like *J’ai un pain* instead of *J’ai du pain* when referring to an undefined quantity.
Forgetting to change des to de before adjectives placed before plural nouns (e.g., *de jolies robes* not *des jolies robes*).
Omitting the article in expressions of quantity with bien or beaucoup (e.g., incorrectly writing *beaucoup amis* instead of *beaucoup d’amis*).
Using the definite article with countries after the preposition en (e.g., *en la France* instead of *en France*) but failing to use it after à with masculine countries (e.g., *au Japon*).
Misapplying article rules in negative sentences, sometimes overcorrecting by using de with definite articles (e.g., *Je n’aime pas de chocolat* instead of *Je n’aime pas le chocolat*).

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Use

Apply

Demonstrate

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Grammar – AS Level: Articles

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC A-Level French

A2 Unit 3: Speaking (Independent Research Project)

A2 Unit 4: Listening, Reading and Translation

A2 Unit 5: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing (Literary Work)

A2 Units

Grammar – AS Level: Articles

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use 'du' vs 'de la' vs 'des'?

Why is it 'J'aime le chocolat' and not 'J'aime chocolat'?

What is the difference between 'des' and 'de' in negative sentences?

Do I always use 'de' after expressions of quantity?

How do articles work with 'à' and 'de'?

Can I omit articles in French like in English headlines?

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC A-Level French

A2 Unit 3: Speaking (Independent Research Project)

A2 Unit 4: Listening, Reading and Translation

A2 Unit 5: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing (Literary Work)

A2 Units