duhify

[covert compass]

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.

[slow tundra]

@upbeat silo It changes the meaning slightly:

Ce ne sont pas des enfants.
Those are not children/kids.

Ce ne sont pas les enfants.
Those are not the kids/children (referring to specific people).

And even in a negation you keep 'des' if it's plural.

[exotic wyvern]

While « des » changes into « de » in negation, there are exceptions:

• When the verb used is être

Ce sont des enfants => ce ne sont pas des enfants

• When you contrast two elements regarding a given action

Je ne mange pas des tartes mais des pizzas.

[worthy stratus]

You mean les ?

[slow tundra]

I messed up the one word I had to get right.

[worthy stratus]