Expressions of Quantity in French and the Use of “de”

In French, most expressions of quantity are followed by “de” before the noun. This rule is consistent in many cases, but there are notable exceptions, such as words like “plusieurs” and some idiomatic expressions.

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When to Use “de” After Expressions of Quantity

Many expressions of quantity are followed by “de” before the noun, and the form of “de” does not change based on the gender or number of the noun. It remains “de” (or “d'” before a vowel or silent “h”).

Common Expressions Requiring “de”:

• Un peu de (a little of)
• Beaucoup de (a lot of)
• Trop de (too much/many of)
• Assez de (enough of)
• Moins de (less of)
• Plus de (more of)
• Une bouteille de (a bottle of)
• Un kilo de (a kilo of)

Examples:

1. Il y a beaucoup de livres.
   (There are a lot of books.)
2. Nous avons un peu de temps.
   (We have a little time.)
3. Elle achète une bouteille de lait.
   (She is buying a bottle of milk.)
4. Trop d’idées peuvent être confuses.
   (Too many ideas can be confusing.)

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Exceptions: When “de” Is Not Used

1. Expressions That Do Not Require “de”:

Some quantifiers connect directly to the noun without needing “de.” A notable example is “plusieurs” (several).

• Plusieurs is an adjective that does not require “de” because it directly modifies the noun.

Examples:

1. Il a invité plusieurs amis.
   (He invited several friends.)
2. Nous avons vu plusieurs films.
   (We saw several movies.)

2. Expressions with Articles (le, la, l’, les):

When a specific noun is introduced with a definite article (le, la, les), you do not use just “de” but instead a compound form like “du,” “de la,” or “des.”

Examples:

1. Beaucoup des étudiants sont en vacances.
   (A lot of the students are on vacation.)
2. Un peu de la tarte qu’il a préparée.
   (A little of the pie he made.)

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“de” Before Vowel or Silent “h”

If the noun begins with a vowel or a silent “h,” “de” becomes “d’.”

Examples:

1. Beaucoup d’enfants aiment le chocolat.
   (A lot of children like chocolate.)
2. Un peu d’histoire, c’est toujours intéressant.
   (A little history is always interesting.)

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