Learn Hardcore French: Tu peux me prêter le livre dont tu as déjà terminé la lecture ? - Can you lend me the book that you have already finished reading?

Dont is a relative pronoun that connects the main part of the sentence to its relative clause. It effectively replaces a construction that would otherwise include the preposition de (as in duquel or de laquelle). Here, it refers back to le livre, showing the relationship between the book and the fact that its reading has been finished.

Why is the phrase terminé la lecture used instead of terminé de lire?

In French, saying terminé la lecture treats la lecture as a noun, emphasizing the completed activity of reading a specific book. While terminé de lire is also grammatically correct, the nominal phrase la lecture is more idiomatic when referring to the act of reading a particular work, giving the sentence a more formal or established phrasing.

What does prêter mean in the context of this sentence, and how does it differ from emprunter?

Prêter means "to lend"—that is, to allow someone to use something temporarily with the expectation that it will be returned. In contrast, emprunter means "to borrow." In this sentence, the speaker is asking if the other person can lend the book (i.e., prêter it), not borrow it.

How is the interrogative formed in this sentence, and what does it tell us about informal French questions?

The sentence is structured like a statement (Tu peux me prêter le livre...) but is turned into a question through intonation and the use of a question mark. This form—maintaining the subject-verb order without inversion—is typical in informal French, where the rising intonation in speech (or punctuation in writing) signals that it is a question.

What tense is used in the clause tu as déjà terminé la lecture, and why is it appropriate here?

The clause employs the passé composé (as seen in tu as terminé), which is used to indicate a completed past action. Since the reading has already been finished at the time of speaking, this tense is appropriate for conveying that the action is fully completed.

What role does déjà play in this sentence?

Déjà means "already" and serves to emphasize that the action of finishing the reading occurred before the current moment. It clarifies that the book in question is one that has been completely read prior to making the request, adding important context to the overall meaning.