Breakdown of Elles se sont parlé de leur relation durable.
être
to be
elles
they (feminine)
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
parler
to speak
leur
their (singular and plural forms: leur, leurs)
se
himself, herself, themselves (reflexive)
la relation
the relationship
durable
lasting
Questions & Answers about Elles se sont parlé de leur relation durable.
Why is there no feminine plural agreement on parlé when the subject is Elles?
With reflexive verbs in the passé composé, the past participle usually agrees with the subject. However, there is a major exception: if the reflexive pronoun (se) acts as an indirect object, there is no agreement. Because you say parler à quelqu'un (to speak to someone), the se here means 'to each other' and is an indirect object. Therefore, parlé stays invariable.
Why do we use de after parlé in this sentence?
The verb parler uses the preposition de when it means 'to talk about' or 'to discuss' a topic. So parler de leur relation simply means 'to talk about their relationship.'
Since the subject Elles is plural, shouldn't the possessive adjective be leurs?
Possessive adjectives agree with the thing being possessed, not the owner. Since they are discussing a single, shared relationship, the singular noun relation requires the singular possessive leur. You would only use leurs if they were discussing multiple relationships (leurs relations).
Does the adjective durable just mean 'durable' like a tough physical object?
It can mean 'durable' or 'hard-wearing' for physical objects, but when describing abstract concepts like a relationship, peace, or economic growth, durable translates better as 'lasting', 'enduring', or 'sustainable'.
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