you said that we use des only with countable nouns, does that means that uncountable nouns are treated as singular in french ?

renwa f.A1KwizIQ community member

you said that we use des only with countable nouns, does that means that uncountable nouns are treated as singular in french ?

Asked 7 years ago
Cécile J.A1KwizIQ Q&A super contributorCorrect answer

Hi Renwa,

You will use du, de la, de l' (some) for uncountable nouns which are singular articles: 

J'ai de la confiture d'abricot, si vous préférez? = I have some apricot jam if you prefer?

Il y a du bon chocolat dans le placard. = There is some good chocolate in the cupboard.

Nous avons de l'argent à changer en arrivant. We have some money to change on arrival.

Hope this helps!

June C.A2KwizIQ community member
What about "des fruits"? is "fruits" here countable or uncountable? 
Cécile J.A1KwizIQ Q&A super contributor

That's an interesting question June...

In French fruit is very countable -

We say for instance:

"Tu veux un fruit?"  which would translate in English as, "Do you want a piece of fruit"

or

J'ai des fruits comme dessert I have (some) fruit for dessert

Hope this helps!

Luthien T.A0KwizIQ community member

Wait...

Why is du here? ''Il y a du bon chocolat dans le placard.''

isn't ''bon'' an adj. qualificatif? so in front of it shouldn't be just ''de''?

Cécile J.A1KwizIQ Q&A super contributor

Hi Luthien, 

il y a un bon dessert dans le placard

Il y a des bonnes florentines dans le placard

Il y a de la bonne huile d'olive dans le placard

il y a du bon chocolat dans le placard 

 

There is some .... which is the partitive 

 

renwa f. asked:

you said that we use des only with countable nouns, does that means that uncountable nouns are treated as singular in french ?

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