Using le, la, les with titles, languages and academic subjects (definite articles)

Hi Jocelyn,

the "de" after "pas" is used when you are expressing, e.g., that you don't have something of something. For example:

Il n'y a plus de sucre. -- There is no more (of) sugar.
Elle ne boit pas d'alcool. -- She drinks not of the alcohol. (literally)

But in the example you quote, "Ils ne parlent pas l'espagnol." There is no larger thing of which the language Spanish would be part of. It is an indivisible entity. Hence no "de".

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Bonjour Jocelyn !

To complete Chris's answer, only partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) and indefinite articles (un, une, des) become de or d' in a negative sentence.

It doesn't apply to definite articles (le, la, l', les) or zero articles, hence: 

Have a look at our related lessons:

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/the-partitive-article-in-negative-sentences

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/un-and-une-become-de-or-d-in-negative-sentences-indefinite-article

Bonne journée !

Thank you Chris

Thank you Aurélie

Bonjour Chuck, After reading your question, I reread the lesson but I am unable to find the plural of il or elle that you are referencing. Please consider resubmitting your question with the example. Bonne chance

Bonsoir Daniel, Je suis d'accord avec vous. C'est très difficile de savoir soit "l'histoire" = story or the stories" soit "l'histoire = history or the history". Et bien sûr que les maths est une phrase maladroite. In English we would say «the math» as in the math problem or the mathematics; however, en français c'est tel «(US) (= mathematics) maths fpl» This comes from the Collins-Robert French dictionary. Bonne chance,

Merci Monsieur.... un bon réponse!

De rien.

Bonjour Dexter ! THE famous question :) Unfortunately, I cannot give you an infallible rule for that, as there is none. You just have to learn the words with their gender. The "good" thing is that words have a fixed gender, so once you know it, you can't get it wrong ;) À bientôt !

Bonjour Susan !

That's a very good question indeed!

Here is the answer, concerning président :

- When you're not addressing them personally, there won't be a capital letter:
Le président Hollande visite l'Angleterre.

- When you're addressing them personally, you will use what we call the "majuscule de courtoisie" (politeness capital letter).
Monsieur le Président, je vous écris...

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !

Good to learn the customs as well as the language. Merci!

Bonjour C. ! The reason "français" doesn't agree in gender with "elle" here is that with the structure "parler + language", it is always the masculine form that is employed. Indeed here what you're actually saying is "I speak [the language] French", i.e. "Je parle français" OR "Je parle le [langage] français". Languages are always masculine in French, no matter who speaks them ;) I hope that's helpful! À bientôt !

Yes, thanks so much, sometimes the brain doesn't engage all the rules!

Bonjour Johnny ! I don't think that's the reason, as in both cases, you use the non-capitalised adjective form of the language: "Je parle français." "Je parle le français." I would say that the original way would be "Je parle le (langage) français", which would respect French structures, and then usage would have made "Je parle français" acceptable as well. But that's my humble theory, as it's one of those "that's just the way it is" rules! À bientôt !