Chapitre Cinq
Discussing Quantities; De as a Partitive; Expressions of Quantity
Exercice 5.10 - 5.11
Discussing Quantities
French uses the metric system, so when following a recipe or ordering a portion size, it is important we understand how to use this system.
Litre is used for liquids and is significantly smaller than a gallon. 1 liter = about 1/4 gallon
Gramme is used for measuring dry ingredients, such as spices, sugar, chocolate, etc. Since it is a weight measurement rather than a size measurement, we cannot convert it across the board (to or from teaspoons, for example). There are converters available online, but make sure you specify the item you are converting, such as salt or sugar, cinnamon or dark chocolate.
Kilo is used to weigh heavier items, as it is the equivalent of 1.000 grams. You might talk about potatoes (pommes de terre), apples (pommes), or onions (oignons) in kilogrammes.
Other Common Quantities
Note: When talking about quantities, notice that the “de” doesn’t change. You see une carafe d’eau, un pichet de vin, une tranche de jambon, un kilo de pommes, etc. With these expressions of quantity, “de” comes directly before the noun and no article is needed.
De as a partitive
When we are talking about amounts or quantities, we see the word de frequently. It can be translated as some, any, or of. Depending on how it is used, sometimes it will change based on gender and number.
De will become du when it means “some” or “any” before a masculine word. We never want to hear “de le” in French!
Je voudrais du pain. I would like some bread.
Est-ce que vous avez du lait ? Do you have any milk?
De will become des when it means “some” or “any” before a plural word. We never want to hear “de les” in French!
Il voudrait des fruits frais. He would like some fresh fruit.
Est-ce qu’il y a des raisins secs dans le gâteau ? Are there any raisins in the cake?
De can stay as de la when it means “some” or “any” before a feminine word.
On va prendre de la dinde. We are going to have some turkey.
Est-ce qu’on sert de la soupe ici ? Do you serve (any) soup here?
De will become de l’ when it means “some” or “any” before a word that begins with a vowel or an “h.”
Nous avons de l’eau dans notre sac à dos. We have some water in our backpack.
Est-ce qu’il y a de l’ail dans ce plat ? Is there any garlic in this dish?
Note that words like “garlic” and “bread” are not countable; we have to say “cloves” or “loaves” to make these countable and to use the plural form.
Situations where de does not change
Along with the quantity phrases on the previous page, de does not change with these expressions.
Modèles :
Exercice 5.10
Expressions of Quantity
Quantities and Numbers
As we have been seeing in this chapter, with quantities and foods, we often use un, une, de, de la, d’, or des to talk about what we are eating, buying, consuming, giving, etc. instead of the definite article (le, la, les). Remember that there are times when de doesn’t change, such as in negation.
The verb you are using will determine what follows:
- Verbs of preference (aimer, détester, etc.) and other transitive-direct verbs (étudier, aider, voir, etc.) will often be followed by the definite article le, la, l’, or les plus whatever you are talking about.J’aime les fleurs.
- Certain verbs, when talking about quantity, take a partitive article (un, une, de, du, de l’, de la, or des + noun) such as acheter, donner, prendre, manger, etc.J’achète des fleurs.
Il mange du jambon.
Ils donnent des conseils.
Nous prenons du poisson.
Exercice 5.11
liter
gram
a spoonful of
a bottle of
a small pitcher of
a liter of
50 grams of
a kilo of
a piece of
a slice of
a can of
a beef roast
a pork chop
a dozen eggs
a glass of
a cup of
a bowl of
a large pitcher of
a portion of (commonly used with cake, pizza, etc.)
no
as in "I have no money"
a lot of
enough of
a bit of
too much of
more of
less of
Marc served himself a piece of cake.
Who ate a little of my cake?
to love
to dislike
to study
to help
to see
to buy
to give
to take in/to take
to eat
