To use the definite article or not?

TomC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To use the definite article or not?

In the sentence 'La musique représente également un moteur de créativité' why is the definite article not used before 'créativité'? I feel a French sentence about creativity would probably begin 'La créativité...'

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Tom,

In French, when two nouns are linked together by the preposition 'de' you won't have an article before the second noun -

un moteur de recherche = a search engine 

un hotel de ville = a town hall

un sac de rechange a spare bag 

un sac de couchage = a sleeping bag

un arrêt d'autobus a bus stop 

etc 

Hope this helps 

KevinC1Kwiziq community member

I believe the second noun in these cases is acting as an adjective of the first noun and therefore does not need an article. Adding a second article would be like saying "I waited at the bus the stop" in english. 

To use the definite article or not?

In the sentence 'La musique représente également un moteur de créativité' why is the definite article not used before 'créativité'? I feel a French sentence about creativity would probably begin 'La créativité...'

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