Hi, according to lawlessfrench, partitive articles are used with uncountable nouns.
But you say "Note that when the adjective is placed BEFORE a plural noun, the partitive article des (some) becomes de (or d' in front of a vowel or mute h) "
Also your example "J'achète de beaux draps." (I think that drap is a countable noun)
If it is used with uncountable nouns, why do you use partitive article with countable noun "drap"?
Thank you.
Emre,
‘ des ‘ is also the plural indefinite article. See first attached link.
In French, the partitive or indefinite article cannot be dropped from the sentence.
Whether used as the indefinite or the partitive article, ‘ des ‘ becomes ‘ de ‘ before an adjective preceding a noun. (There are some plural uncountable nouns).
That is the reason there is no distinction made in the following note from the lesson
“ Note that when the adjective is placed BEFORE a plural noun, the article des (some) becomes de (or d' in front of a vowel or mute h). “
As the lesson you linked notes, ‘ des ‘ is also the contraction of ‘ de les ‘, but when used in this sense, ‘ des ‘ does not change to ‘ de ‘.
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/glossary/article-type/indefinite-article
"Des" becomes " de/d' " in front of adjectives preceding nouns (French Articles)
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Test your French to the CEFR standard
Find your French level