je bois de l'eau
The English phrase "I drink water" is translated into French as je bois de l'eau.
This phrase is used by a person to state that they are consuming water.
Which one should you use?
The phrase je bois de l'eau refers to drinking water in general. If you say je bois l'eau, you are changing the meaning to "I drink the water," which refers to a specific, previously mentioned water.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the partitive article de l'eau to indicate an unspecified quantity of water.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say je bois l'eau when they mean to say they are drinking water in general. To avoid this, use the partitive de l'eau instead of the definite article.
Did you know?
- When ordering water in a French restaurant, asking for une carafe d'eau ensures you receive a free pitcher of tap water rather than expensive bottled water.
- While je bois de l'eau is grammatically correct, a native speaker in a casual setting would often say je bois de la flotte. The word flotte is a common slang term for water.
- The word bois is a homograph to the noun bois, meaning 'wood', which comes from a completely different Germanic root related to bushes.
Examples in context
- Je bois de l'eau.I drink water.Tatoeba #2724289 by Rovo, translation #7932256 by Seael
- Je bois de l'eau quand j'ai soif.I drink water when I'm thirsty.Tatoeba #11646515 by carlosalberto, translation #11646507 by carlosalberto
- Je bois de l'eau parce que j'ai soif.I drink water because I am thirsty.Tatoeba #900673 by phil77, translation #866125 by SalsaVioleta
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are at a restaurant.
- HugoQu'est-ce que tu bois, Hugo ?What are you drinking, Hugo?
- ManonJe bois de l'eau, et toi ?I am drinking water, and you?
- HugoMoi, je préfère un jus d'orange.Me, I prefer an orange juice.
- ManonC'est un bon choix, Manon.That is a good choice, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bois, de, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
