Point de dpart The verbs prendre to take

Point de départ The verbs prendre (to take, to have) and boire (to drink), like être, avoir, and aller, are irregular. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -1

The forms of the verbs apprendre (to learn) and comprendre (to understand) follow the same pattern as that of prendre. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -2

© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -3

Partitives Use partitive articles in French to express some or any. To form the partitive, use the preposition de followed by a definite article. Although the words some and any are often omitted in English, the partitive must always be used in French. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -4

Note that partitive articles are only used with non-count nouns (nouns whose quantity cannot be expressed by a number). The article des also means some, but it is the plural form of the indefinite article, not the partitive. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -5

To give a negative response to a question asked using the partitive structure, as with indefinite articles, always use ne…pas de. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -6

Essayez! Complétez les phrases. Utilisez la forme correcte du verbe entre parenthèses et l’article qui covient. prend (prendre) _______ des 1. Ma soeur _______ éclairs. 2. Tes parents _______ (boire) _______ café? 3. Louise ne _______ (boire) pas _______ thé? 4. Est-ce qu’il y _______ (avoir) _______ sucre? 5. Nous _______ (boire) _______ limonade. 6. Non, merci. Je ne _______ (prendre) pas _______ frites. 7. Vous _______ (prendre) _______ taxi? 8. Nous _______ (apprendre) _______ français. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 B. 1 -7