Je parle souvent avec Marie, mais je n’ose pas la questionner trop directement.

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Breakdown of Je parle souvent avec Marie, mais je n’ose pas la questionner trop directement.

• Marie: Marie
• ne ... pas: not
• avec: with
• souvent: often
• parler: to speak
• mais: but
• trop: too
• directement: directly
• oser: to dare
• la: her
• questionner: to question

Questions & Answers about Je parle souvent avec Marie, mais je n’ose pas la questionner trop directement.

Why is souvent placed right after parle?

In French, adverbs like souvent (meaning "often") typically follow the verb they modify. Placing souvent right after parle emphasizes how frequently the speaker talks with Marie.

What does n’ose pas signify in this context?

Oser means "to dare," and n’ose pas means "do not dare." It expresses that the speaker lacks the courage or boldness to do something—in this case, to question Marie too directly.

Why is the pronoun la used in la questionner?

In French, la is a direct object pronoun that refers to a feminine object or person already mentioned—in this sentence, Marie. So la questionner means "to question her."

What is the difference between questionner and demander?

Questionner is more direct and means "to question or interrogate," often with the connotation of seeking specific information. Demander can mean "to ask (for something)," "to request," or "to ask a question" in a broader sense. In this sentence, the speaker specifically refers to questioning Marie.

What does trop directement mean, and why is it placed at the end of the sentence?

Trop directement literally means "too directly." In French, adverbial phrases like this frequently come after the verb or verb phrase they modify. By placing trop directement at the end, the sentence emphasizes that the speaker fears being excessively direct in questioning Marie.