"We are eating rice."

Translation: Nous mangeons du riz.

[AhmedAlaa9]

I am wondering about why its du riz not la riz ?

[Sitesurf]

"le riz" is a masculine noun.

Eating rice is about eating "an unknown quantity of a mass thing" or "some rice".

This translates to a partitive article: "du riz" ("du" is the contraction of the preposition "de" + the definite article "le").

[generalpepper]

to anyone wondering why it is mangeons and not mangons, it is a special exception to this conjugation.

[Sitesurf]

The reason is about pronounciation of "G" in front of a O (or A, U) which is a hard G (like the first one in the English "garage") vs in front of a E or I, which is a soft G (like the second one in the English "garage").

So, an "E" is added between G and ONS to keep the soft G pronounciation.

[Ramkiguru]

Is it wrong to say nous mangent?

[becox]

Yes, it can only be said "Nous mangeons"

[PisslessCr]

When do i use mangent and mangeons for "we"

[Sitesurf]

"mangent" is the 3rd person plural conjugation: ils/elles mangent.

[mustafasarmad0]

It should be mangons not mangeons I am sur

[Sitesurf]

The -e- is added to keep the soft sound of the G in front of a hard vowel (o).

[mustafasarmad0]

Thanks for that

[kiddo_san]

Is it okay to say "du le riz" while we can say "de la viande" ?

[Sitesurf]

"du" is already the contraction of "de" + "le".