French language Q&A Forum

I read this somewhere - why is the des not a de in front of petits?

Derrière moi vous avez des petits bateaux à voile mais aussi de grands bateaux à voile

With regards to both conjugations, is one more common than the other when speaking and the same when writing. I think a French friend of mine said once that one is more common over the other when writing.

Also, should I learn both ways or just the one that I find easier?

Thank you

Depuis has gotten confusing in this forum likely due to one comment stating emphatically that Depuis is used for a duration that starts and ends in the past. The lesson says no such thing, yet the incorrect comments show no clarification, and we are left to wonder. If Depuis cannot be used for a duration that starts and ends in the past, then something should be mentioned in the lesson, or, better, corrections should be added in response to the incorrect forum comments. Otherwise, it is confusing. Thank you much.

Hi, in the alternate possibility that is given, “lorsque l'on termine une tour.” is the “ l’ ” there purely for pronunciation reasons? And could we use “lorsqu’on”? I remember something about it being desirable to avoid the sound of the French word “con”. Do friends in casual conversation care about that, or it just something to bear in mind in polite company?

It strikes me that the follow through implied in passé composé for devoir (had to, and did it) is similar to vouloir (wanted to, and did or tried to do it).   Does that sound right?