ne - que

Question

The object will be singular following a negation. In this case the object is the `sa collection. But a collection is inherently plural ins de jardin rather than nain de jardin. but why is the collection de nains and not des nains?

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Marc,
Une collection de nains de jardin = a garden gnome collection
-> it is a compound noun made of several gnomes
You would never say: une collection des (de+les) nains de jardin = a collection of the garden gnomes
Also, because "des" would be used for very specific items, you would say:
la collection des nains de jardin de mon père = my dad's garden gnome collection
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !