de (provenance / appartenance)

Origin, Possession with De

Level 1

The preposition de (or d' before a vowel) is a versatile word used to express origin (from), possession (belonging to), quantities, negation, and to connect words.

How It Works

The preposition de is essential for connecting ideas in French. Here are its primary uses to become confident with at this level:

1. Origin and Starting Points
It indicates where someone or something is from. (Je viens de Paris. - I come from Paris.) It is also used for ranges: de... à... (from... to...). (De 9 heures à 17 heures - From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

2. Possession, Description, Contents, and Materials
French does not use an apostrophe-s ('s). Use de to show ownership (Le sac de Paul - Paul's bag), to define a type (Un cours de français - A French class), to express contents (Une tasse de thé - A cup of tea), or to indicate materials (Un mur de pierre - A stone wall). Note that in modern French, the preposition en is frequently used for physical materials alongside de (Un mur en pierre).

3. Quantities and Negation

  • Quantity: Use de after most expressions of quantity like beaucoup (a lot) or un peu (a little). (Beaucoup de temps - A lot of time). Note that the expressions la plupart (most) and bien (many/a lot of) are exceptions; they require a definite article, resulting in forms like des or du (La plupart des gens - Most people, Bien des gens - Many people).
  • Negation: When a noun is the direct object of a negative verb, indefinite and partitive articles change to de. pas de means 'not any'. (Je n'ai pas de voiture. - I don't have a car.) This also applies to other negative adverbs like jamais or plus (Je n'ai plus de pain. - I have no more bread). However, this change does not happen after the verb être (Ce n'est pas une voiture. - It is not a car).

4. Verbs, Adjectives, Cause, and Manner
Many verbs and adjectives are naturally followed by de. For example, verbs linked to an infinitive by de (essayer de - to try to) or adjectives (content de - happy to/about). de is also commonly used to express cause (mourir de faim - to die of hunger) or manner (d'une voix douce - in a soft voice).

5. Mandatory Changes

  • Elision: Elision occurs when de becomes d' before a vowel or a mute H (d'eau - of water, d'homme - of man).
  • Contractions: de merges with definite articles: de + le = du and de + les = des. However, de does not contract with la or l' (de la boulangerie - from the bakery, de l'hôtel - from the hotel).
  • Before plural adjectives: The indefinite plural article des changes to de when it comes before a plural adjective (De beaux arbres - Beautiful trees).
  • Note: Do not confuse the preposition de with the partitive articles (du, de la, des) which mean 'some'.

Examples (6)

  1. C'est le stylo de Marc.

    It is Marc's pen.

    Word by Word: It is the pen of Marc.

    French uses 'de' to show possession because there is no 's' equivalent.

  2. Elle a beaucoup de livres.

    She has a lot of books.

    Word by Word: She has a lot of books.

    Expressions of quantity like 'beaucoup' are always followed by 'de' without the definite article.

  3. Je n'ai pas de voiture.

    I don't have a car.

    Word by Word: I not have not of car.

    In negative sentences, indefinite articles become 'de' to mean 'not any'.

  4. Il essaie de parler.

    He is trying to speak.

    Word by Word: He tries of to speak.

    Many verbs, like 'essayer' (to try), require 'de' before a following infinitive.

  5. Je viens du parc.

    I am coming from the park.

    Word by Word: I come of the park.

    When 'de' is followed by the masculine article 'le', they contract into 'du'.

  6. Je voudrais un verre d'eau.

    I would like a glass of water.

    Word by Word: I would like a glass of water.

    'De' becomes 'd'' before a vowel sound.

Common Mistakes

  • Using English word order for possession (e.g., 'Marie de livre').

    Marie de livre
    Le livre de Marie

    In French, the object being owned must come first, followed by 'de', then the owner.

  • Forgetting to elide 'de' before a vowel or silent H.

    Un verre de eau
    Un verre d'eau

    When 'de' is followed by a word starting with a vowel or silent H, it must become 'd''.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

de (provenance / appartenance)Level 1Origin, Possession with De

Learn This First

To understand the preposition 'de', you need to know how it marks relationships like origin and possession. You should also be familiar with elision, as 'de' changes to 'd'' before vowel sounds.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 7 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern