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Paul veut questionner Marie.

Paul veut questionner Marie.
Paul wants to question Marie.
FromLesson 6inHardcore French

Breakdown of Paul veut questionner Marie.

Paul
Paul
Marie
Marie
vouloir
to want
questionner
to question

Questions & Answers about Paul veut questionner Marie.

Why does the sentence use questionner instead of another verb like demander?
The verb questionner specifically means "to question or interrogate someone," implying a focused effort to get information from them. The verb demander is broader and typically means "to ask (for something)" or "to request," which doesn’t convey the same sense of inquiry or interrogation.
Is there a difference between questionner and simply saying poser une question?
Yes. Poser une question literally means "to pose a question," which focuses on the act of asking a single question. Questionner suggests that Paul might be asking multiple detailed questions, or interrogating, rather than just asking one question.
Why is Marie placed directly after questionner without a preposition?
In French, questionner takes a direct object without a preposition. So if Paul is questioning someone, we directly say questionner quelqu’un, in this case, "questionner Marie."
Do I need to use an article before Marie (like la Marie) in French?
No. When referring to someone by name, you typically do not use an article in French. You just say the name Marie without any article.
How is vouloir conjugated in the present tense?

Vouloir is irregular:
• Je veux
• Tu veux
• Il/Elle/On veut
• Nous voulons
• Vous voulez
• Ils/Elles veulent

That is why we get Paul veut questionner ("Paul wants to question").

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“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).

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