Can I decide the placement of the adjective and then use 'de' or 'des' as necessary?

DonB1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Can I decide the placement of the adjective and then use 'de' or 'des' as necessary?

Can you simply move an adjective before a noun and then use 'de'? Or does using 'de' before the adjective only occur when using an adjective that actually goes before the noun?

i.e. Can we say "the white houses" either way? des maisons blanches or de blanches maisons

Asked 3 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Don,

Just to add to Chris answer -

The white houses ( your example ) = Les maisons blanches

White houses = Des maisons blanches

I hope this helps!

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

No, you can't. Placement of the adjective is pretty rigid in French. Most adjectives follow the noun, some precede it and a few can go either place.

Can I decide the placement of the adjective and then use 'de' or 'des' as necessary?

Can you simply move an adjective before a noun and then use 'de'? Or does using 'de' before the adjective only occur when using an adjective that actually goes before the noun?

i.e. Can we say "the white houses" either way? des maisons blanches or de blanches maisons

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