Je crois que je peux cuisiner un repas délicieux.

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Breakdown of Je crois que je peux cuisiner un repas délicieux.

• le repas: the meal
• que: that
• croire: to believe
• pouvoir: to be able
• cuisiner: to cook
• délicieux: delicious

Questions & Answers about Je crois que je peux cuisiner un repas délicieux.

Why do we use que after Je crois in this sentence?

In French, when one verb (like croire) introduces another full clause, que is used to connect them. So Je crois que je peux cuisiner… literally means I believe that I can cook…. These linking words (often referred to as conjunctions) are necessary to show that what follows (je peux cuisiner…) is an entire clause.

Do we need to use the subjunctive mood after Je crois que?

Usually, croire que is followed by the indicative mood when it’s an affirmative statement, because you’re expressing a belief or something you consider a fact. You’d typically use the subjunctive if the statement was negative or in doubt (for example, Je ne crois pas qu’il puisse cuisiner…). But here, the sentence is affirmative, so the indicative (peux) is correct.

What’s the difference between Je peux cuisiner and Je sais cuisiner?

Both express an ability, but Je peux cuisiner emphasizes that you are capable of cooking right now or have the permission to cook, whereas Je sais cuisiner focuses more on having the skill or knowing how to cook in general.

Why do we say un repas délicieux instead of un délicieux repas?

In French, adjectives can usually go before or after the noun, but the meaning can subtly change. Placing délicieux after un repas is a more standard word order for many adjectives describing characteristics of the noun. Using un délicieux repas is also possible; some adjectives like délicieux can appear before or after, often with a slightly more emphatic or stylistic effect if placed before the noun.

How is peux pronounced compared to peu or peut?

Peux (from pouvoir) and peut are spelled differently but sound exactly the same in modern French: both rhyme with peu. All three forms are pronounced with the same vowel sound [pø], where the e is rounded. The difference is purely grammatical or related to the subject, but the sound is identical.