Question 1

Why do "beaux", "oiseaux", and "lieux" end with an "x" instead of an "s" for the plural?

Accepted Answer

In French, most nouns and adjectives add an -s to become plural, like we see here with des loups and des plantes. However, words that end in -eau (like beau and oiseau) or -eu (like lieu) take an -x instead. So, beau becomes beaux, oiseau becomes oiseaux, and lieu becomes lieux.

Question 2

Why does the sentence say "de beaux oiseaux" instead of "des beaux oiseaux"?

Accepted Answer

Normally, the plural word for "some" is des, which we see later in the sentence (des loups). But there is a tricky French rule: when an adjective comes right before a plural noun, des changes to de. Because the adjective beaux comes before the noun, it has to be de beaux oiseaux.

Question 3

Why does "beaux" come before the noun, but other adjectives usually go after?

Accepted Answer

While most French adjectives do come after the noun, a short list of common adjectives always goes in front. These usually describe Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, and Size (often remembered as the BANGS rule). Because beau describes beauty, it sits before oiseaux.

Question 4

Do you pronounce the "x" at the end of "beaux", "oiseaux", and "lieux"?

Accepted Answer

No, the -x used for these plurals is completely silent, just like the typical plural -s. You pronounce beaux, oiseaux, and lieux exactly the same way you pronounce their singular forms (beau, oiseau, and lieu).

Il y a de beaux oiseaux, des loups et des plantes dans ces lieux.

Breakdown of Il y a de beaux oiseaux, des loups et des plantes dans ces lieux.

Questions & Answers about Il y a de beaux oiseaux, des loups et des plantes dans ces lieux.

Learn Il y a de beaux oiseaux, des loups et des plantes dans ces lieux and more in French