tomodachi to nihongo de hanasu to, aite no kangaekata o sukoshi rikaisuruno wa omoshiroi desu.

When I talk in Japanese with a friend, it is interesting to understand a bit of the other person’s way of thinking.

Breakdown of tomodachi to nihongo de hanasu to, aite no kangaekata o sukoshi rikaisuruno wa omoshiroi desu.

• は: topic particle
• です: to be
• を: direct object particle
• 友とも達だち: friend

Questions & Answers about tomodachi to nihongo de hanasu to, aite no kangaekata o sukoshi rikaisuruno wa omoshiroi desu.

What does the particle と do after 友達 in 友達と? Is it the same と as in 話すと later in the sentence?

They are the same particle と, but used in two different functions.

• In 友達と, と means “with” (the comitative use):
  
  • 友達と話す = to talk *with a friend*.
• In 話すと, と is the conditional “when/if”:
  
  • 話すと、〜 = when (I) talk / if (I) talk, then 〜.

So:

• 友達と → “with a friend”
• 話すと → “when I speak / if I speak”

Same particle, but different grammatical roles in each place.

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Why is it 日本語で話す and not 日本語を話す?