A small French correction.

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

A small French correction.

Bonjour Madame, 

There is a line in this comprehension as - “Ça n’entraîne pas des frais très très importants.”

Should it not be ‘de’ ? I am taught that whenever negative comes, then indefinite article ‘des’ changes to ‘de’. Being a beginner, I may be incorrect . Please provide further clarification.

Bonne journée !

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi  Varsha,

You can actually say both “ .....pas des/de frais très très importants” here.

I am not aware there is a particular reason as the verb is not ‘être’ or a verb of state.

You would have to say for instance: 

“ Ce ne sont pas des leçons très difficiles” you cannot say ‘de’ in that case.

Here is the lesson pertinent to that subject -

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/the-partitive-article-in-negative-sentences

Hope this helps!

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Madame,

Thank you for your explanation.  But I want to ask which of the following sentences ‘de/des’ frais is grammatically correct ?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Varsha, 

They both are as you can say both....

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Merci Madame Cécile !

Bonne journée !

Shrey R. asked:

A small French correction.

Bonjour Madame, 

There is a line in this comprehension as - “Ça n’entraîne pas des frais très très importants.”

Should it not be ‘de’ ? I am taught that whenever negative comes, then indefinite article ‘des’ changes to ‘de’. Being a beginner, I may be incorrect . Please provide further clarification.

Bonne journée !

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