Breakdown of Marie propose de chanter une chanson dans le jardin.
Marie
Marie
dans
in
le jardin
the garden
chanter
to sing
de
of
la chanson
the song
une
a
proposer
to propose
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching French grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Marie propose de chanter une chanson dans le jardin.
What is the role of the preposition de in this sentence?
The preposition de introduces the infinitive chanter as a complement to the main verb propose. In French, many verbs (like proposer) are followed by de + infinitive when expressing an action that is suggested.
Why is the verb chanter in the infinitive form?
Since proposer is used here to suggest an activity, it is followed by an infinitive. The structure proposer de + [infinitive] is standard in French for indicating that someone is suggesting to do something, which is why chanter remains in its infinitive form.
What role does une chanson play in this sentence?
Une chanson functions as the direct object of the infinitive chanter. It specifies what is being suggested to be sung, answering the question “what song?”
What does the phrase dans le jardin indicate?
The prepositional phrase dans le jardin tells us where the action is intended to happen. It means “in the garden,” thus providing a locational detail for the activity proposed.
How is the verb propose conjugated, and why?
Propose is conjugated in the third person singular present tense form of proposer. This conjugation agrees with the subject Marie, who is singular (and contextually feminine), which aligns with French subject–verb agreement rules.
Could the structure of the sentence be different if Marie were offering something rather than suggesting an action?
Yes, if Marie were offering an object (rather than suggesting to perform an action), proposer might directly take a noun as its object without the need for de + infinitive. For example, saying Marie propose une chanson could imply she is offering a song for someone, rather than suggesting that they sing it.