French Phrase
T'as des billes de polystyrène ?
Meaning
The speaker is asking informally whether the listener has any polystyrene beads, a lightweight plastic material often used for crafts, modelling, or school projects. The question is casual, using the spoken contraction « t'as ».
When to use
Use this sentence when you need a quick, informal request for craft supplies from a friend, a classmate, or a colleague in a relaxed setting (e.g., a hobby workshop, a school art class, or a DIY gathering). Avoid it in formal contexts such as a business meeting or when speaking to strangers you don’t know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asdesbillesdepolystyrène?
Contraction T'
« T' » is the spoken contraction of « tu », used before a verb that starts with a vowel.
Verb avoir (as)
« as » is the 2nd‑person singular present of avoir, meaning ‘you have’.
Indefinite article des
« des » is the plural indefinite article, equivalent to ‘some’ or ‘any’ in English.
Noun agreement
« billes » is a feminine plural noun, so the article stays « des ».
Material construction de
When indicating the material something is made of, French uses the preposition de (e.g., billes de polystyrène).
Polystyrène gender
« polystyrène » is a masculine singular noun, but it stays unchanged after de.
🗨In Conversation
T'as des billes de polystyrène ?
Do you have any polystyrene beads?
Oui, j'en ai encore dans mon tiroir.
Yes, I still have some in my drawer.
✕Common Mistakes
T'as des billes du polystyrène ?
When indicating material, French uses de instead of the partitive du. « billes du polystyrène » is incorrect.
T'as des billes de le polystyrène ?
The article le should not be used after de in this construction; it would need the contraction du, which is not appropriate here.
C'est des billes de polystyrène ?
« C'est » means ‘it is’, not ‘you have’. Using it changes the meaning entirely.
↔Alternatives
Tu as des billes de polystyrène ?
Do you have any polystyrene beads?
Est‑ce que tu as des billes de polystyrène ?
Do you have any polystyrene beads?
Vous avez des billes de polystyrène ?
Do you (plural/formal) have any polystyrene beads?
Tu as des billes en polystyrène ?
Do you have polystyrene beads?
Cultural Tip
The contraction « t'as » is typical of everyday spoken French and is perfectly natural among friends, but it can sound too familiar in formal or professional situations. In written French, especially in emails or official documents, use the full form « tu as ». Also, French speakers often refer to craft materials by their material name (e.g., billes de polystyrène) rather than by brand, so the phrase is widely understood across France and French‑speaking Canada.