{"id":2070,"date":"2026-02-11T12:49:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/?p=2070"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:50:17","slug":"the-use-of-de-and-des-in-french-key-rules-exceptions-and-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/the-use-of-de-and-des-in-french-key-rules-exceptions-and-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"The use of de and des in French: key rules, exceptions, and examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the first things that catches a learner\u2019s attention in French is the tiny but tricky word de<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It appears everywhere in everyday speech, yet it often raises questions:
Why do we sometimes see de<\/em><\/strong>, other times du, de la, <\/em>or des<\/em><\/strong>?
When does des <\/em><\/strong>turn into de <\/em><\/strong>\u2014 and when does it stay the same?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding when to use de <\/em><\/strong>isn\u2019t just about grammar. It\u2019s about recognizing essential sentence patterns and sounding more natural when you speak or write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll go over the main situations where de <\/em><\/strong>is used, with clear examples and practical tips to avoid the most common mistakes and make your French smoother and more precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. De <\/em>after a negation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In French, in negative sentences, all partitive and indefinite articles turn into de<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Je n’ai pas de <\/strong>cigarette.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This applies not only with ne\u2026 pas<\/em>, but also with other negatives like ne\u2026 jamais<\/em>, ne\u2026 plus<\/em>, ne\u2026 aucun(e).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– M. Dupont ne boit plus de <\/strong>vin.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important exception:<\/strong> after the verb \u00eatre<\/em>, the article does not change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Ce n’est pas du <\/strong>bon vin.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. De <\/em>after expressions of quantity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After expressions of quantity such as beaucoup de<\/strong>, peu de<\/strong>, assez de<\/strong>, trop de<\/strong>, combien de<\/strong><\/em>, you always use de<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Nous avons beaucoup de <\/strong>probl\u00e8mes en ce moment.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exception<\/strong>: certain expressions keep des<\/em><\/strong>, such as la plupart des<\/strong>, bien des<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– La plupart des <\/strong>Fran\u00e7ais prennent leur vacances en ao\u00fbt.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. De <\/em>before a plural noun with an adjective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When an adjective comes before a plural noun, des <\/em><\/strong>changes to de<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Elle a fait de <\/strong>nombreuses observations.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s no adjective, or if the adjective comes after the noun, it stays des<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Elle a fait des <\/strong>observations int\u00e9ressantes.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t confuse the two des<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are actually two different des<\/strong> <\/em>in French:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) des = plural indefinite article<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 This one can become de (in negation, when an adjective comes before the noun…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Nous avons des <\/strong>appartements \u00e0 louer. \u2192 Nous n\u2019avons plus d\u2019<\/strong>appartements \u00e0 louer.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) des <\/em><\/strong>= contraction of de + les<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 This one never changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Vous n\u2019avez pas parl\u00e9 des <\/strong>nombreux probl\u00e8mes qui vous accablent.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Special cases to remember<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are also a few fixed expressions that require de <\/em><\/strong>without an article. These don\u2019t follow a general rule \u2014 they\u2019re set phrases you just need to learn as they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) With de mes\/tes\/ses nouvelles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Il y a longtemps que je n\u2019ai pas eu de<\/strong> ses nouvelles.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, de <\/em><\/strong>introduces the object of the conversation without adding an article \u2014 a very common idiomatic structure in everyday French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) After certain verbs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some verbs require de <\/em><\/strong>without an article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Tu changes facilement d\u2019<\/strong> habitude.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are fixed patterns: changer de + nom<\/em> \/ se tromper de + nom<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) In expressions like en mati\u00e8re de<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– En mati\u00e8re de<\/strong> sant\u00e9, les habitudes sont importantes.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here de <\/em><\/strong>functions purely as a preposition, introducing the topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. To sum up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

French uses the simple form de <\/em><\/strong>in three main contexts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n