Floo

[deft plume]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[misty birch]

de (du / de la / des) X -> the main ingredient that forms the whole thing is this item
à (au / à la / aux) X -> the main flavor is this thing, but it doesn’t necessarily make up the majority of the ingredients

une soupe de tomates -> tomatoes are the main flavor and ingredient
une soupe à la tomate -> tomato is major flavoring, but doesn’t make up the majority of the soup

[deft pike]

cool thx so much!!

but when do i make the noun plural? its different all the time and idk

[obtuse snow]

The noun is plural when it’s countable, singular when not

Une soupe aux champignons (because ‘mushroom’ is countable)
Un café au lait (because ‘milk’ is uncountable)

Of course, you have both « aux tomates » and « à la tomate », how can one word be both countable and uncountable? The difference is in what they reference: The countable version refers to the fruit (des tomates) whereas the uncountable version refers to the flavouring or the spice