Je vais parler avec Paul brièvement avant le déjeuner.

I am going to speak with Paul briefly before lunch.

Breakdown of Je vais parler avec Paul brièvement avant le déjeuner.

• je: I
• Paul: Paul
• avec: with
• avant: before
• aller: to go
• le déjeuner: the lunch
• parler: to speak
• brièvement: briefly

Questions & Answers about Je vais parler avec Paul brièvement avant le déjeuner.

Why does the sentence use Je vais parler instead of Je parlerai?

In French, Je vais parler is an example of the near future construction, often called the "futur proche." It places emphasis on an event that will happen soon, akin to saying I’m going to speak in English. Je parlerai (the simple future tense) is more general, often less immediate, and can sometimes sound more formal or distant in focus.

What is the difference between parler avec Paul and parler à Paul?

Both can mean "to speak to Paul," but parler avec Paul emphasizes a conversation with Paul, suggesting the two will talk together, possibly exchanging ideas. Parler à Paul can be more one-sided: simply addressing Paul or speaking to him in passing. In everyday speech, both are correct and sometimes interchangeable, but avec underscores the interactive nature of the conversation.

How do I pronounce brièvement?

It sounds roughly like bree-ehv-mohn in English. More precisely:
• briè = /bʁjɛ/ (somewhat like English “bree-eh,” but with a French "r")
• ve = /v/ (a simple “v” sound)
• ment = /mɑ̃/ (the nasalized “an” sound in French).

Why is avant le déjeuner used instead of avant de déjeuner?

Avant le déjeuner means "before lunchtime" or "before the meal," focusing on the meal as a noun. Avant de déjeuner literally translates to "before eating lunch," focusing on the action of having lunch. Both are correct, but avant le déjeuner makes it clear you are referring specifically to the meal, while avant de déjeuner implies the action of eating.

Is it possible to move brièvement to another position in the sentence?

Yes. Adverbs in French are often flexible. For example, you could say Je vais brièvement parler avec Paul avant le déjeuner or Je vais parler avec Paul avant le déjeuner brièvement. However, placing brièvement after parler as in the original sentence (Je vais parler avec Paul brièvement) is very natural and keeps the focus on speaking briefly.