beaucoup de choses
Many things in French is beaucoup de choses.
Use beaucoup de choses to talk about a large number of things, as in J'ai vu beaucoup de choses, I saw many things.
What does it mean word for word?
beaucoup means a lot or many, de links it to the noun and choses is the plural of the word for thing.
Which one should you use?
plusieurs choses means several things and suggests a smaller number you could count. beaucoup de choses is a large, open amount.
How does it change in a sentence?
After beaucoup, use de and not des, even though choses is plural. Before a vowel, de shortens to a d followed by an apostrophe.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often say beaucoup des choses by reaching for the plural article. Say beaucoup de choses instead.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- J'ai vu beaucoup de choses.I saw many things.J'ai vu means I saw, so the sentence says I saw many things.Tatoeba #7289583 by Rockaround, translation #3819902 by CK
- Tom sait beaucoup de choses.Tom knows many things.sait comes from the verb to know, giving Tom knows many things.Tatoeba #12848871 by Rovo, translation #681312 by Source_VOA
- Beaucoup de choses ont changé.Many things have changed.Here Beaucoup de choses is the subject, so the verb ont changé is plural.Tatoeba #8269901 by Aiji, translation #4496435 by CK
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are talking about their recent vacation.
- HugoTu as acheté beaucoup de choses ?Did you buy many things?
- EmmaOui, j'ai trouvé beaucoup de choses sympas.Yes, I found many nice things.
- HugoC'est super, Emma !That's great, Emma!
- EmmaJe te montrerai tout demain.I will show you everything tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beaucoup, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
