Elle veut de l'eau maintenant.

She wants some water now.

Breakdown of Elle veut de l'eau maintenant.

• elle: she
• l'eau: the water
• vouloir: to want
• maintenant: now
• de l': some

Questions & Answers about Elle veut de l'eau maintenant.

Why is it de l’eau instead of de la eau?

In French, when a noun begins with a vowel (or a silent h), the definite article le or la contracts to l’. So de la eau becomes de l’eau for reasons of pronunciation and style.

Why is veut used instead of veux?

The verb vouloir changes form depending on the subject. Je and tu both use veux, but il/elle/on uses veut. Since the sentence starts with Elle, the correct form is veut.

Is de l’eau considered a partitive article in this sentence?

Yes. In French, the phrase de l’eau here is a partitive, which is used when referring to some amount of water, rather than a specific quantity (like one glass or one bottle).

Why does the phrase end with maintenant?

Maintenant means now and indicates immediacy or the current moment. Placing it at the end of the sentence emphasizes that she wants water right now.