The often confusing de versus le/la

Question

Je n'oublie pas la crème solaire.  Why isn’t it ‘de’ crème?  I guess it’s general, but seems a little more personal to me.

Accepted Answer

Not here Glen
The partitive du, de la, de l', des ( some) become 'de' (any) after pas but not the definite article le, la. les.
Je n'oublie la crème solaire, le chapeau, la bouteille d'eau ...
Could have been - ma crème solaire, mon chapeau, ma bouteille d'eau ...
But if you say -
Je n'oublie pas de mettre de la crème solaire = I don't forget to put on some sunscream
Je ne mets pas de crème solaire = I don't put any suncream
This is the lesson you need -
Du/de la/de l'/des all become de/d' in negative sentences (French Partitive Articles)
Bonne Continuation !