I enjoyed this exercise and have similar questions

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I enjoyed this exercise and have similar questions

This is an area that I have found to be a bit confusing for me: Why is it "une tarte aux pommes; une tarte aux peches" but "une tarte/sorbet au citron" etc...? 

It is "un cafe au lait" but is it "une glace au cafe" for a coffee ice cream, (one of my favorites) ?

I know that I , for one, would really appreciate a lesson on these terms. 

And, then there are all the food terms which use "de"; "du"; "de la" and "des" !

Help!  

Par exemple - pouquoi est-ce qu'on dit "un sandwich au jambon" mais "un verre de vin" ?

May I suggest a lesson which addresses adjectives for foods and "la cuisine" ? After all France is known for its excellent cuisine!

I think it would be very helpful !

Merci a tous !

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The difference between à and de when it comes to food is something like "made with" and "made from". "Made with" an ingredient is an ingredient that lends something its flavor. "Made from" an ingredient means that this ingredient is the main ingredient, i.e., the stuff the dish is really made from.

un sandwich au jambon -- a sandwich made with ham, i.e., there are other ingredients that are important but ham gives it its taste.
un café au lait -- a coffee "made with" milk, i.e., there's still the coffee that's the main thing, not the milk.
une glace au café -- ice cream "made with" coffee, i.e., there's the taste that comes from the coffee but the ice cream isn't made from coffee primarily.

Un jus de pommes -- a juice "made from" apples, i,e., apple juice. Clearly, the juice itself is from apples, not just "made with" apples.
Une barre de céréales -- a bar "made from" granola, i.e., a granola bar.

Un verre de vin -- a glass of wine. This is a different topic, because here, un verre is a quantity. After a quantity you don't use the partitive article.

Martin v.C1Kwiziq community member

Hey Chris, 

Thanks for your clear explanation. A follow-up question about a remaining detail: why is it un jus de pommes and une barre de céréales, not un jus des pommes and une barre des céléales? After all, the plurality can also be found in une tarte aux framboises. Consequently, does that also mean that du and de la are never used in the center of a food description? 

Many thanks.

I enjoyed this exercise and have similar questions

This is an area that I have found to be a bit confusing for me: Why is it "une tarte aux pommes; une tarte aux peches" but "une tarte/sorbet au citron" etc...? 

It is "un cafe au lait" but is it "une glace au cafe" for a coffee ice cream, (one of my favorites) ?

I know that I , for one, would really appreciate a lesson on these terms. 

And, then there are all the food terms which use "de"; "du"; "de la" and "des" !

Help!  

Par exemple - pouquoi est-ce qu'on dit "un sandwich au jambon" mais "un verre de vin" ?

May I suggest a lesson which addresses adjectives for foods and "la cuisine" ? After all France is known for its excellent cuisine!

I think it would be very helpful !

Merci a tous !

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