silyeon.

[slate junco]

Please be patient

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[lean mulch]

« beaucoup de X » is an expression of quantity which doesn’t become plural

The idea being that the partitive article « des » disappears when in contact with the preposition « de » so « beaucoup de + des livres = beaucoup de livres »

A good example without an expression of quantity would be « j’ai besoin de livres » where the verbal expression « avoir besoin de X » meets « des livres » and thus we have « avoir besoin de livres ».

You can meet a « des » after an expression of quantity if the object has a subordinate clause.
« J’ai besoin de + les livres que tu as achetés => J’ai besoin des livres que tu as achetés »

[timber sand]

yeah basically just if the expression/word already has an emphasis on quantity, you just use "de." imo it just feels like it's to get rid of redundancy

[mystic notch]

It's just because it's a preposition, you can't have the preposition de + the partitive, it stays as "de", otherwise it would be either repetitive (de de la) or be confused with preposition de + definite article

[little kite]

And just in case you dont know, indefinite plural article "des" also become "de" when it is placed before an adjective which is before a noun.

De beaux souvenirs.
De belles fleurs.
De vieux monuments.
De jolis parcours.
Etc.

[quiet scaffold]

also 'j'ai besoin de...'

[mystic notch]

Yea, that's a preposition