Question 1

Why is the verb trouvent plural when the subject starts with the singular phrase La plupart?

Accepted Answer

This is the special rule for la plupart (most). While other collective words like un groupe (a group) usually take a singular verb, la plupart takes its verb agreement from the noun that follows it. Because it is followed by the plural des clients, the verb must be the plural trouvent.

Question 2

Why do we use des clients instead of de clients? Don't phrases of quantity usually just use a plain de?

Accepted Answer

Normally, yes! You would say beaucoup de clients (a lot of customers) or un peu de sel (a little salt) without using les or le. However, la plupart is a famous exception. It requires the definite article (le, la, or les) after the de. So, de + les clients contracts to become des clients.

Question 3

Does trouver always mean physically finding something, or can it mean "to think" like in English?

Accepted Answer

It works exactly like the English word "find" in both senses! You can use trouver to physically find a lost item, and you can use trouver que to express an opinion, meaning "to think that" or "to find that".

Question 4

Why doesn't trouvent que trigger the subjunctive for the next verb (est)?

Accepted Answer

When you use trouver que to state a positive opinion or belief, it takes the normal indicative mood (est). It generally only triggers the subjunctive if the sentence is negative (like ils ne trouvent pas que...) or asked as a question, because those forms introduce doubt.

La plupart des clients trouvent que le service est excellent.

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