“Donner mon sang” , ou “donner le sang”?

Cornelia H.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

“Donner mon sang” , ou “donner le sang”?

In the writing exercise, the author gives blood every Saturday. I used “je donne le sang”, but the only correct answer was “je donne mon sang”. I am used to thinking about always using the definite article for parts of the body. Why would this not apply in this situation?


Thank you!

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Cornelia, 

The answers given for -

 I give my blood 

is indeed 

Je donne mon sang 

or 

Je fais don de mon sang

You could at a pinch say -

Je donne du sang = I give ( some) blood

You could argue that blood is not a part of the body like an arm, an ear, or a leg and is not a definite quantity so unless you are talking about a particular quantity of blood that you have collected (not necessarily yours) as a nurse maybe, and you give it to someone else then 'le sang' would be ok.

Bonne Continuation!

 

 

Cornelia H.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you very much. When you put it that way it makes perfect sense.

Brian E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Just a note, we always say “I give/am giving/gave blood”. The “my” in “I gave my blood” is never used in English in my experience. 

“Donner mon sang” , ou “donner le sang”?

In the writing exercise, the author gives blood every Saturday. I used “je donne le sang”, but the only correct answer was “je donne mon sang”. I am used to thinking about always using the definite article for parts of the body. Why would this not apply in this situation?


Thank you!

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