Omission of article

Question

I notice the omission of any article to go with jeux in the phrase 'l'opportunité d'essayer différents jeux'. Is this something to do with the word différents? For example, if there were no adjective, you would surely say 'l'opportunité d'essayer des jeux'...?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Tom,
This is an excellent question! ;-)
Here, in this particular example, "différent" acts as an "indefinite adjective" and like many others (such as "divers, plusieurs" for example), they imply either a vague quantity and/or a vague identification.

Différentes personnes ont défilé dans la rue = Different people paraded in the street -> meaning "a few"
Il a essayé différents jeux = he tried different games -> meaning "a few"

I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Thank you Céline!

Answer

In Céline's answer to Tom's questions, she refers to « différent » being used as an "indefinite adjective".

Trying to understand the matter more fully, I delved into some of my grammar reference books (e.g., Le Bon usage), and they indicated that «différents» (like «divers, plusieurs») does duty as a déterminant, when placed before a noun. (Articles, [une, les, de+les=des] are also déterminants, of course.)

That was a clearer explanation for me for why there was no article in « l'opportunité d'essayer différents jeux ».

With «différents» serving as the déterminant for «jeux», an additional déterminant (an article) would be improper.

Answer

Bonjour Don,You are correct that "différent" is part of the "déterminants". Remember also that "les déterminants" not only include "articles" but also indefinite adjectives (différents, divers, plusieurs...) as well as many others (See here: https://dictionnaire.lerobert.com/guide/qu-est-ce-qu-un-determinant).I hope this is helpful.Bonne journée !