Partitive Article

refers to part of a whole
indicates indefinite quantity instead of an entire thing
some, any in English

singular
plural
masculine
du
des
feminine
de la
des
before a vowel
de l'

Par exemple:

du pain

some bread

le pain

the bread, all of the bread

de la viande

some meat

la viande

the meat, all of the meat

de l'eau

some water

l'eau

the water, all of the water

des épinards

some spinach

les épinards

the spinach, all of the spinach

de la patience

some patience

la patience

the patience, all of the patience

des amis nouveaux

some new friends

les amis nouveaux

the new friends, all of the new friends