Elle a de l'eau.

She has some water.

Breakdown of Elle a de l'eau.

• elle: she
• l'eau: the water
• avoir: to have

Questions & Answers about Elle a de l'eau.

Why is there de l' before eau?

In French, de l' is the partitive article used before a singular noun starting with a vowel. It indicates "some" water rather than a specific quantity. Since eau begins with a vowel, we write de l'eau instead of du eau or de la eau.

Could we say Elle a l'eau instead?

No, Elle a l'eau would literally mean "She has the water," implying a specific supply of water already identified in context. Using de l'eau expresses that she just has some water in general, not a particular set amount.

Is de l'eau always used to mean "some water"?

Yes, de l'eau is the typical way to say "some water." If you want to talk about a specific bottle or quantity of water, you would specify that instead, like Elle a une bouteille d'eau (She has a bottle of water) or Elle a un verre d'eau (She has a glass of water).

Does Elle a de l'eau imply she is currently holding the water?

Not necessarily. The sentence Elle a de l'eau simply indicates possession. Context would clarify whether she physically has it in her hand, in her home, or has access to water in general.