Elision: j'ai, l'ami
Dropping e before a vowel
By Fabling Editorial · How we design our guides
Dropping e before a vowel
Je, le, la, ne, and de usually lose their final vowel before a vowel sound or a mute h: j'aime, l'hôtel, n'est. The apostrophe marks the missing vowel. An aspirated h blocks elision, as in le héros.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
Pronoun 'je' before vowels
Je becomes j' before a vowel.
J'habite à Paris.
I live in Paris.
Articles 'le' and 'la' before vowels
Le and la become l' here.
L'ami de Paul.
Paul's friend.
Negative 'ne' before vowels
Ne becomes n' before vowels.
Je n'aime pas.
I do not like.
Common mix-ups
You cannot keep the 'e' on 'je' when the next word starts with a vowel.
I like chocolate.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in French before opening the example.
I like the hotel. Use aimer.
Show one possible answer
J'aime l'hôtel.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
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