We are learning about food items and I don't really get the rule of de la, du, and de l' and also the countable and non countable items. Can anyone please explain it to me?

Answer 1

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. First of all, don't forget the contractions of de + le = du and de + les = des

THE PARTITIVE: The idea of "some" or "any" with a noun is expressed in French by:

de + the definite article of the noun:
du papier some (any) paper
de la viande some (any) meat
de l'encre some (any) ink
des plumes some (any) pens

de, without the article, after a negative:
Je ne vois pas de fleurs. = I don't see any flowers. / I see no flowers.
Il n'a pas d'encre. = He/She hasn't any ink. / He/she has no ink.

de, without the article, when an adjective precedes a plural word:
de bonnes plumes some good pens
de vieux livres. some old books

de, with or without the article, when an adjective precedes a singular noun:
du bon papier some good paper
de bon papier (also correct)

NOTE: The words "some" and "any" must be expressed in French, and before each noun, even though they are often omitted in English.
Avez-vous du pain? Non, mais j'ai du lait et de la viande. = Have you (any) bread? No, but I have (some) milk and meat.

I gave you the simplified explanation, since you are probably in French I?

Mme