Question 1

Why do we use n'importe laquelle here instead of n'importe quoi?

Accepted Answer

N'importe laquelle is an indefinite pronoun used when you are picking 'any one' out of a specific group of items that was just mentioned (here, the wheels). N'importe quoi means 'anything' in a broad, general sense without referring to a specific category.

Question 2

If roues is plural, why is laquelle singular?

Accepted Answer

The pronoun matches the gender of the noun it replaces (une roue, which is feminine), but the number depends on how many you are selecting. Since the speaker is only going to repair a single wheel from the pile, we use the singular laquelle. If they were going to repair any random set of wheels, they would say n'importe lesquelles.

Question 3

Could I say n'importe quelle instead of n'importe laquelle?

Accepted Answer

Not on its own. N'importe quel (and its variations like quelle) is an adjective, meaning it must be followed directly by a noun, such as n'importe quelle roue. By adding the definite article to make it n'importe laquelle, it becomes a pronoun that can stand alone.

Question 4

Just as a refresher, why is it beaucoup de roues and not beaucoup des roues?

Accepted Answer

Expressions of quantity like beaucoup, un peu, or trop are almost always followed by just de (or d') without a definite article. You would only use des (which is a contraction of de + les) if you were talking about a specifically restricted group, like beaucoup des roues qui sont dans ce garage (many of the wheels that are in this garage).

Il y a beaucoup de roues ici, je vais réparer n'importe laquelle.

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