Learn French: Le ciel montre de grands présages ce soir.

Le ciel montre de grands présages ce soir.

The sky shows great omens tonight.

Breakdown of Le ciel montre de grands présages ce soir.

grand

big / tall

of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)

Questions & Answers about Le ciel montre de grands présages ce soir.

Why is it de grands présages and not des grands présages?

Normally, the plural for an indefinite noun uses des, like des présages. However, when a plural adjective comes directly before the noun, des shrinks to de. Since the adjective grands comes before présages, we must use de.

If I remove the word grands, does de change back to des?

Exactly! Without the adjective standing in front of the noun, the reduction rule no longer applies. You would go back to the standard plural article and say: Le ciel montre des présages.

Why does the adjective grands come before the noun here?

Most French adjectives go after the noun, but short, common adjectives that describe Beauty, Age, Goodness, or Size (often taught as the BAGS rule) go before it. Grand fits into the Size category, which can also mean great or significant in this context.

Why does ce soir translate to tonight instead of this evening?

In French, ce soir covers both this evening and the active part of tonight. The word for night, nuit, is generally reserved for the late, dark hours when people are actually sleeping. So if you are pointing at the sky before bedtime, it is still ce soir.