French grammar - Verbs with prepositions - parler à and parler de |
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Many French verbs can be followed by a preposition which changes its meaning. One such verb is parler which means 'to speak' or 'to talk'. -- parler conjugates like a standard -ER verb. The propositions that follow parler modify its meaning. For instance: • parler à means 'to talk to' • parler avec means 'to speak with' • parler de means 'to speak about' • parler en means 'to speak in (a language)' Note that all these permutations take a noun after the preposition. In later topics we will see many other verbs that, like parler, modify with many different prepositions. |
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Je parle français.
I speak French *OR* I am speaking French. |
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Elle parle assez bien le français.
She speaks French quite well. |
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Il ne parle pas la langue russe.
He does not speak the Russian language.
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Que parle-t-il exactement ?
What is he saying exactly? |
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À qui parlez-vous ?
Who are you (formal) talking to? |
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Il veut parler au patron.
He wants to talk to the boss. |
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De quoi parlez-vous ?
What are you (formal) talking about?
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Nous parlons des projets de la famille pour les vacances d'été.
We talk about the family's plans for the summer vacation. |
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De quoi parles-tu avec ma sœur ?
What are you (familiar) talking about with my sister? |
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Nous parlons de la météo.
We are talking about the weather.
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De quel type de travail parlez-vous ?
What type of work are you (formal) talking about? |
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Le directeur parle aux lycéens.
The principal talks to the high school students.
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Ils parlent toujours de jeux informatiques.
They always talk about computer games.
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Parle-t-il en espagnol avec sa mère ?
Does he speak in Spanish with his mother?
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