PARTIT

(4) In English, very often, some or any are omitted, and nouns are used without any article, or adjective; it ail dépends on the object, or substance represented by the noun, as to whether the indefinite or the partitive is to be used in French; and if the English noun without article expresses what has been called a gênerai noun (see p. 323, No. 5) the definite article must be used, e.g. :

(a) Bears like grapes (both nouns are gênerai nouns) : definite article.

(6) We bought grapes (individual objects) : indefinite article.

(c) Bears like meat (both nouns are gênerai nouns) : definite article.

(d) We bought meat (a substance) : partitive adjective.

(5) In the case of adjectives preceding the noun (see p. 300, No. 24) the partitive adjective (du, de la, de Y) is usually replaced by de, e.g.:

de bon pain, instead of du bon pain.

(6) Similarly, and regularly, the plural des (NOM. or ACC.) of the Indefinite Article (A) (p. 317, No. 95) must be replaced by de whenever the adjective précèdes the noun, e.g.:

des maisons confortables (comfortable dwellings) de confortables maisons (comfortable dwellings)

(7) Whether an adjective ought to précède, or follow, is a question of stress; the last one of the two words (noun and adjective) conveys stress; thus, des maisons confortables is practically the équivalent of des maisons qui sont confortables (the adjective, following the noun, becomes equal to a relative clause).