Learn Hardcore French: La lampe est près du mur blanc.

In French, when the preposition de comes before the masculine singular definite article le, they contract to form du. Since mur is a masculine noun, "de le mur" becomes "du mur."

Why is the adjective blanc placed after the noun mur instead of before?

In French, adjectives that provide objective descriptions—such as colors—typically follow the noun. This positioning contrasts with certain adjectives that may come before the noun to convey more subjective qualities.

Does the adjective blanc agree with the noun mur in gender and number?

Yes, it does. Mur is a masculine singular noun, so the adjective must also be in the masculine singular form; hence blanc is correctly used.

What is the function of the phrase près du mur blanc in this sentence?

The phrase près du mur blanc serves as a locative expression that tells us where the lamp is situated. It specifies the proximity of the lamp to the white wall.

How would the sentence change if you wanted to express "The lamp is near a white wall" instead of "the white wall"?

You would need to use an indefinite article instead of a definite one. The contraction du (from de + le) would change to d'un (from de + un), resulting in the sentence: "La lampe est près d'un mur blanc."