French Phrase
Les gouttières sont pleines de feuilles.
Meaning
This phrase describes a common household maintenance issue where rain gutters are clogged with fallen foliage. It highlights the use of the adjective 'plein' (full) and the preposition 'de' (of) in a descriptive context.
When to use
Use this phrase during autumn or after a storm when discussing home repairs or chores. It is most common in conversations between family members, neighbors, or when hiring a maintenance service.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesgouttièressontpleinesdefeuilles
Accord de l'adjectif
The adjective 'pleines' is the feminine plural form of 'plein', matching the noun 'gouttières'.
Usage of 'de'
After adjectives of quantity or state like 'plein', 'de' is used without an article to indicate the substance filling the container.
🗨In Conversation
Regarde le toit, les gouttières sont pleines de feuilles.
Look at the roof, the gutters are full of leaves.
Tu as raison, je vais chercher l'échelle pour les nettoyer.
You are right, I am going to get the ladder to clean them.
✕Common Mistakes
Les gouttières sont plein de feuilles.
The adjective must agree in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with the subject 'les gouttières', resulting in 'pleines'.
Les gouttières sont pleines des feuilles.
When using 'plein de' to mean 'full of' in a general sense, the article is omitted, and 'de' is used alone.
↔Alternatives
Les gouttières sont bouchées.
The gutters are blocked.
Il y a beaucoup de feuilles dans les gouttières.
There are a lot of leaves in the gutters.
Cultural Tip
In France, 'le nettoyage des gouttières' is typically the responsibility of the tenant in a rental agreement as part of routine maintenance. Failing to clear them can lead to 'infiltrations d'eau' (water leaks), which is a common topic of concern for homeowners in rainy regions like Brittany or Normandy.