Je prépare un repas culinaire.

I am preparing a culinary meal.

Breakdown of Je prépare un repas culinaire.

• je: I
• préparer: to prepare
• le repas: the meal
• une: a
• culinaire: culinary

Questions & Answers about Je prépare un repas culinaire.

What is the role of the indefinite article un in this sentence?

In this sentence, un serves as an indefinite article that corresponds to "a" in English. It introduces a nonspecific instance of the noun repas (meal), which is masculine singular—hence the use of un.

Why is the adjective culinaire placed after the noun repas?

In French, most descriptive adjectives are positioned after the noun they modify. Here, culinaire follows repas to naturally form the phrase "repas culinaire" (culinary meal). This placement is standard for adjectives that describe qualities such as style or method.

How is the verb préparer used in this sentence regarding its tense and subject?

The verb préparer is conjugated in the present tense in the first person singular form: Je prépare. This indicates that the speaker ("I") is currently in the process of preparing the meal. The conjugation aligns with the subject Je.

What does the adjective culinaire imply about the type of meal being prepared?

The adjective culinaire emphasizes that the meal has a connection to the art of cooking or gastronomy. It suggests that the meal is prepared with specific culinary techniques or care, elevating it beyond a simple meal to one that is crafted with culinary expertise.

Is it possible to rearrange the sentence without changing its meaning, specifically regarding the position of culinaire?

Although French sometimes allows flexibility in adjective placement, moving culinaire before repas (i.e., Je prépare un culinaire repas) would sound unusual and deviate from standard usage. The natural and grammatically correct order is to place the adjective after the noun, as in Je prépare un repas culinaire.