Breakdown of Le président a parlé en tant que mentor.
avoir
to have
parler
to speak
le président
the president
en tant que
as / in the capacity of (role or status)
le mentor
the mentor
Questions & Answers about Le président a parlé en tant que mentor.
Why is there no article before mentor when the English translation says "as a mentor"?
Could I just say comme mentor instead of en tant que mentor?
Yes, comme mentor is also correct and means essentially the same thing. However, en tant que emphasizes the official capacity or specific role a bit more strongly. Note that if you added an article and said comme un mentor, it changes the meaning to a comparison: he spoke like a mentor, implying he might not actually be one.
Is there a liaison between tant and que in this phrase?
Why is a parlé (passé composé) used here rather than parlait (imparfait)?
The passé composé (a parlé) treats the speaking as a completed, distinct event, like a single speech or a specific conversation. If you used the imparfait (parlait), it would set a background scene (he was speaking) or describe a habit (he used to speak).
Learn Le président a parlé en tant que mentor and more in French
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free