Learn Hardcore French: La fourchette est dans le tiroir, mais la cuillère est près de l'évier. - The fork is in the drawer, but the spoon is near the sink.

Because the sentence refers to specific, identifiable objects (the fork and the spoon both speakers have in mind). French generally requires a determiner with common nouns, and the definite article (la) marks “the.” Using une would mean “a fork/spoon,” i.e., some unspecified one.

What are the genders of the nouns here?

la fourchette (feminine)
la cuillère (feminine)
le tiroir (masculine)
l’évier (masculine; it’s le évier underlyingly, but elides to l’évier) Tip: The ending -ette is very often feminine. For the others, memorize the noun with its article.

Why is it dans le tiroir and not en le tiroir or à le tiroir?

dans = physically inside something: dans le tiroir = in the drawer.
en is not used for “in” with a specific physical container like this.
à le contracts to au, but au tiroir doesn’t mean “in the drawer”; it would sound odd here. Use dans for “inside.”
For contrast: sur le tiroir = on top of the drawer.

How does près de work with articles?

près de must be followed by a determiner; it contracts with the definite articles like this:

près du = près de + le (masc. sing.)
près de la (fem. sing.)
près de l’ (before vowel/h‑mute)
près des = près de + les (plural) Hence: près de l’évier.

Why is it l’évier and not le évier?

Elision: when le or la comes before a vowel sound (or h-muet), it becomes l’. So le évier → l’évier. The noun is still masculine.

Can I say à côté de l’évier instead of près de l’évier?

Yes, but the nuance differs:

près de = near/close to (general proximity).
à côté de = right next to/beside (closer, often adjacent). Choose based on how close the spoon actually is.

What’s the difference between évier and lavabo?

évier = kitchen sink.
lavabo = bathroom sink. In everyday French in France, this distinction is standard.

Is the comma before mais necessary in French?

Yes, placing a comma before coordinating mais is standard in French: … tiroir, mais … Don’t put a comma after mais.

How do I pronounce the tricky words?

la fourchette: [la fuʁʃɛt] (ch = “sh”)
tiroir: [tiʁwaʁ] (oi = “wah”)
mais: [mɛ] (“meh”)
la cuillère: [la kɥijɛʁ] (cuill‑ ≈ “kwee‑yair,” the French r at the end)
près: [prɛ] (open “eh”)
l’évier: [levje] (é = “ay,” ‑vier ≈ “v‑yay”) Link smoothly in de l’évier: [də levje].

Are there any liaisons I should make here?

Nothing obligatory or tricky:

dans le: no liaison (next word starts with a consonant).
près de l’évier: elision already happens; just link smoothly: de‑l’é‑vier.
mais la: liaison after mais is generally not made. Note: The final t in fourchette is pronounced, so fourchette est naturally sounds like “fourchett‑est.”

Can I drop the article after près de (e.g., say près de évier)?

No. With a common noun you need a determiner: près de l’évier, près du four, etc. You can drop it only before certain adverbs/proforms like près d’ici.

Is cuiller also correct, or must it be cuillère?

Both exist, but cuillère (with ‑ère) is the most common and recommended modern form. cuiller is an accepted variant you’ll still see.

How would this change in the plural or in the negative?

Plural: Les fourchettes sont dans le tiroir, mais les cuillères sont près de l’évier.
Negative: La fourchette n’est pas dans le tiroir, mais elle est près de l’évier. (Note the elision: n’est pas; using elle avoids repeating the noun.)