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Ce tapis n'était pas un cercle, mais un grand rectangle.

Ce tapis n'était pas un cercle, mais un grand rectangle.
This rug was not a circle, but a large rectangle.
From Lesson 343:Geometric shapes·French

Questions & Answers about Ce tapis n'était pas un cercle, mais un grand rectangle.

Why is it pas un cercle and not pas de cercle? Doesn't un change to de in negative sentences?
Usually, yes! However, there is an important exception: when the verb is être (to be), the indefinite articles (un, une, des) do not change to de in the negative. Because the verb here is était, we keep un cercle.
Why use the imperfect tense (n'était pas) instead of the passé composé (n'a pas été)?
The imperfect (l'imparfait) is used here because the sentence describes the physical characteristic or ongoing state of the rug in the past. The passé composé is reserved for specific, completed actions or changes in state.
Does tapis end in an -s because it is plural?
No, tapis is singular in this sentence, which we know because it is preceded by the singular demonstrative adjective ce. The word tapis naturally ends in an -s in its base singular form. The plural is spelled exactly the same.
Why does the adjective grand come before rectangle?
While most French adjectives follow the noun, short and common adjectives that describe Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, and Size (often memorized with the acronym BANGS) are placed before the noun. Since grand describes size, it precedes rectangle.

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