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Je termine le livre.

Je termine le livre.
I finish the book.
FromLesson 12inHardcore French

Breakdown of Je termine le livre.

je
I
le livre
the book
terminer
to finish

Questions & Answers about Je termine le livre.

Why is the verb terminer conjugated as termine in this sentence?
The conjugation termine is used because Je requires the first-person singular form in the present tense. In French, regular -er verbs drop the -er and add -e for je, so Je termine means “I finish.”
What role does the article le play in le livre?
Le is the masculine singular definite article in French, corresponding to “the” in English. It indicates that the noun livre (book) is masculine and refers to a specific, identifiable item.
Is the sentence structure in Je termine le livre similar to English?
Yes, it is. French typically follows the subject-verb-object order just like English. Here, Je is the subject, termine is the verb, and le livre is the object, mirroring the English sentence “I finish the book.”
How does terminer differ from the similar verb finir?
Both terminer and finir can mean “to finish,” but they carry subtle differences. Terminer often emphasizes the act of bringing something to an end (like completing a process), while finir can be used in a broader sense for finishing tasks or activities. Additionally, although both verbs are regular, they belong to different conjugation patterns.
Why is the subject pronoun Je explicitly included, even though the verb ending suggests the subject?
French grammar requires that subject pronouns be stated explicitly. Although the ending -e in termine indicates the first-person singular, you must always include Je to ensure clarity and adhere to standard French syntax.
What tense is used in Je termine le livre?
The sentence is in the present tense. The form termine is the present tense conjugation of terminer for the first-person singular, indicating that the action is happening now.
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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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