“De” vs “des” in plural context?

Question

I have a problem when I try to use *des*. For example, which of these sentences are correct: 1. *Je vois de lapins.* 2. *Je vois des lapins.* 3. *Difficultés de missions.* 4. *Difficultés des missions.*I need to know when I have to use *de* in plural context and when I have to use *des*.

Answer 1

Correct answers:

 2. *Je vois des lapins.

4. *Difficultés des missions. (a little confusing as we don't have the context but if you are saying for example "je me souviens de la difficulté des missions", then that's correct)

Answer 2

Des vs. De is a bit tricky and it depends on the noun that follows.

When the noun is unspecific, you have to use "de".

When the noun is specific, you use "des".

For example:

Unspecific noun: Il a beaucoup de questions. ( He has a lot of questions)

Specific noun: Beaucoup des questions étaient intéressantes. (A lot of the questions were interesting)

Unspecific noun: La table est couvertes de patisseries (the table is covered in pastries)

Specific noun: La table est couvertes des patisseries dont je t'ai parlé. (The table is covered in the pastries that I told you about)

A good way to remember is that "the" is often needed in english when the noun is specific.

Answer 3

Hello, I hope this will be useful!

I prepared a one hour lesson on articles. You will get everything!

Remember that:

"DES"

can be the plural of "un" or "une" (some in english)

OR

can be the contraction of "DE LES"

DES, LES or DE ?

• De + les = des 

We say:

J'aime les pâtes.

J'adore les raviolis. 

But: 

J'ai horreur des pâtes. (avoir horreur de + les) 

Je raffole des raviolis. (raffoler de+ les)

• De+ des = de 

We say: 

je prends des vacances. 

je mange des fruits.

Je cherche des distractions

But: 

J'ai besoin de vacances. (avoir besoin de des)

J'ai envie de fruits. (avoir envie de des)

Je manque de distractions. (manquer de des)

• Des + adjective = de  (especially in writing and in front of a vowel)

We say: 

J'attends des amis romains. 

Vous avez fait des progrès étonnants.

But: 

Ce sont de grands amis. 

Vous avez fait d'énormes progrès.