How do I know when it is appropriate to say d'argent or de l'argent
diner or le diner?
How do I know when it is appropriate to say d'argent or de l'argent
diner or le diner?
Hi Claudia, the usage of the definite article depends on several circumstances. I don't have a general rule handy to tell you. The one where it comes up most frequently is in sitations like this:
Mon voisin gagne beaucoup d'argent. -- My neighbor earns a lot of money.
Moi, je n'ai pas d'argent pour ce luxe. -- I don't have money for that luxury.
Il y a de l'argent à gagner ? -- Is there money to be made?
That's the case of the partitive article. Whenever there is a reference to a quantity (beaucoup in the first sentence, or even "no money" in the second sentence) you omit the definite article. If you are referring to money in general, as in the third example, you use the definite article.
You can read more about this here: https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/partitive-article/
-- Chris.
Merci, vous etes tres gentil. Sorry about the accents. The computer is not set up for french yet.
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