Posted by Bryce on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9:45pm.
I'll send this to our French expert, SraJMcGin.
When it is specific: the ham, the book, etc. it uses the definite article: le, la, les.
However when it implies "some" ham, books, etc. it does the de la, du, des construction.
The Partitive and other uses of "de"
1. de + the definite article of the noun = du beurre, de la soie
2. de without the article after a negative: Je n'ai pas fait de fautes / Il n'a guère d'amis.
3. de without the article when an adjective precedes a plural noun = de vieux souliers / de longues rues
4. de with or without the ariticle when an adjective precedes a singular noun: du bon cidre OR de bon cidre = the more common is the first.
some and any MUST be expressed in French and must be repeated before each noun even though they are often omitted in English: Voulez-vous du poisson ou de la viande et des légumes?
Special uses:
1. Keep the definite article before an adjective in the plural when the adjective is consider3ed part of the noun: des jeunes filles / des petit5s pains / de petits pois
2. after ne...que (only), de is used with the article, provided there is no adjective preceding the noun = Nous ne lisons que de romans.
3. after "sans" (without), ne...ni...ni (n either...n or) and expressions taking "de" the partitive is omitted = C'est un livre sans images. / Nanette ne boit ni thé ni café. / As-tu besoi \n de billets?
4. The idea of "some" or "ay" is translated by "en " if the noun is omitted. "En" like personal pronoun objects precedes the verb, except in affirmatie commands.: A-t-il écrit de lettres? Oui, il en a écrit. / Écrivez-en.
5. then there are certain adverbs of quantity which are followed by "de" without the article before a noun; = assez de / autant de / beaucoup de / combien de / moins de / peu de / plus de / que de / tant de / trop de
6. Nouns of quantity or measure are followed by "de" without the article before another noun. Here are some: = une boîte, une bouteille, une douzaine, u ne foule, un kilo, un litre, une livre, un mètre, un morceau, un nombre, une paire, un panier, un paquet, un sac, une tasse, un verre
NOTE: 1. The adverb "bien" (much, many) and the noun "la pluparaat" ( most) are exceptional. They are followed by "de" and the definite article. ' Ils ont bien des devoirs (but beaucoup de devoirs) / La plupart des élèves réussissent.
2. Plusieurs (several) and quelques (some, a few) are adjectives and modify the noun directly = plusieurs aflches / quelques minutes
3. If the noun is omitted after a word of quantity, the noun ust be replaced by the p0ronun "en." = A=tu du lait? Oui,l j'en ai.
4. Note the distinction between the use of "de" in the sen se of contain int, and "à" in the sense of designed for: une tasse de thé / une tasse à thé (a cup of tea / a teacup)
5. Nouns of Material; of which an object is made are preceded by "de" or "en" without the article. = une pièce d'or = a gold coin
des vêtements en laine = woolen clothing
Possession & Relationship with de r where English generally uses 's or s', French uses de in some form.
les patins de Michel le bureau du directeur / le mari de l'actrice / la grand-mere des e nfants
So, yes, this can be confusing! Now, let me check what you have above.
Sra (aka Mme)
I can't tell what you thought you were saying above. Let's take the first one.
You need THE ham, THE baguette and THE cheese. (specific) = Il vous faut le jambon, la baguette et le fromage.
BUT
You need jam, baguette and cheese. (implying SOME) = Il vous faut du jambon, de la baguette et du fromage.
AND
You need the ham (specific), a baguette and some cheese. = Il vous faut le jambon, une baguette et du fromage.
You see it all depends upon what the speaker means!
Sra (aka Mme)
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