Question 1

Why is it tant de and not tant des before gens?

Accepted Answer

Just like beaucoup de, the expression tant de (so many) is a fixed quantity phrase. These expressions always use de or d' before the noun, regardless of whether that noun is plural. Even though gens is plural, it must be tant de gens.

Question 2

Could I use tellement de instead of tant de in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When followed by a noun to show intensity, tant de and tellement de are completely interchangeable. You could say tellement de gens que je pars and the meaning would be exactly the same.

Question 3

What exactly does the verb bousculent mean here?

Accepted Answer

The verb bousculer is a great word for crowded places. It means to physically bump into, shove, or jostle someone. Since it is conjugated in the third-person plural to match les clients, remember that the -ent ending is completely silent.

Question 4

Is there a difference between using gens and personnes here?

Accepted Answer

You could use either, as tant de personnes is perfectly correct. However, gens is very common for referring to an undefined, collective group of people (like a bustling crowd), whereas personnes can sometimes feel slightly more like a collection of individuals.

Question 5

Why does the sentence use je pars instead of je quitte to say I am leaving?

Accepted Answer

The verb partir (je pars) is used when you are leaving in a general sense, without stating exactly what place you are leaving behind. The verb quitter requires a direct object. To use it here, you would have to state the place, like je quitte le magasin (I am leaving the store).

Les clients bousculent tant de gens que je pars.

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