Il fait du tennis (fait + de le)
Il joue au tennis (joue à + le)
I thought whether we use partitve articles should depends on the thing we modify instead of the verb
Why do we use partitive articles for 'faire' but definite articles for 'jouer à'?
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Joan C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Why do we use partitive articles for 'faire' but definite articles for 'jouer à'?
This question relates to:French lesson "Faire de/jouer à : talking about sports, hobbies and leisure activities in French"
Asked 6 years ago
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Some verbs take à, others de as preposition. No rhyme, no reason. It's the way it is.
Joan C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
But 'faire' does not take any preposition here, "du" (tennis) is partitive articles.
I do not understand why "tennis" (and other sports) use partitive articles when the verb is "faire", but definite articles when the verb is "jouer à"
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Nothing to understand, here, Joan. I am sorry to say but that's just the way it is.
Faire + de + le = faire du.
Jouer + à + le = jouer au.
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