The French declarative sentence most often follows the Subject-Verb-Object order, with complements placed after the verb. Adverbs are generally placed after the verb or between the subject and the verb depending on the type of statement. This basic order serves as a starting point for understanding other structures, notably questions, negations and relative clauses, as in Word Order.

ÉlémentElement	PositionPosition	ExempleExample
SujetSubject	En tête de phraseAt the start of the sentence	MarieMarie
VerbeVerb	Après le sujetAfter the subject	mangeeats
ObjetObject	Après le verbeAfter the verb	une pommean apple
AdverbeAdverb	Après le verbe ou entre le sujet et le verbeAfter the verb or between the subject and the verb	souventoften

With the verb to be, the sentence links the subject to an attribute that states what it is, what it becomes or how it is. The basic structure is Subject be Predicative Complement, and the Predicative Complement can be a noun, an adjective or a noun phrase. This construction is central for describing and identifying, and it also underpins sentences related to negation in Negations.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Le sujet est relié à une qualité ou à une identité.The subject is linked to a quality or an identity.	Marie est contenteMarie is happy
L’attribut complète le sens du verbe être.The Predicative Complement completes the meaning of the verb to be.	Le livre est intéressantThe book is interesting
Le sujet et l’attribut forment une relation d’équivalence ou de description.The subject and the Predicative Complement form an equivalence or descriptive relation.	Paris est une capitaleParis is a capital

The imperative places the verb at the beginning of the statement and often omits the explicit subject. It serves to give an order, advice or invitation. In everyday French, this form is common and direct, and its organization contrasts with the ordinary declarative sentence.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Le verbe ouvre l’énoncé.The verb opens the statement.	Ferme la porteClose the door
Le sujet n’est pas exprimé.The subject is not expressed.	Venez iciCome here
La forme exprime une action demandée.The form expresses a requested action.	Lis ce texteRead this text

Negation frames the verb with ne and pas in standard writing. In everyday speech, ne often disappears, but it remains present in meaning. This arrangement is essential to oppose affirmation and negation in Negations.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
ne précède le verbe.ne precedes the verb.	Je ne viens pasI do not come
pas suit le verbe.pas follows the verb.	Il ne dort pasHe does not sleep
Le français parlé omet souvent ne.Colloquial French often omits ne.	Je sais pasI don't know

Questions are formed by intonation, by est-ce que or by inversion of the subject and the verb. Inversion is mostly used in a formal register and is rare in speech. Interrogative words can also appear at the start of the sentence to clearly mark the point asked.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
L’intonation suffit pour interroger.Intonation suffices to interrogate.	Tu viensAre you coming?
est ce que introduit une question neutre.Est-ce que introduces a neutral question.	Est ce que tu viensAre you coming?
L’inversion est plus soutenue.Inversion is more formal.	Viens tu demainAre you coming tomorrow?

Clitic pronouns are placed before the verb in a simple sentence. The common forms are me, te, le, lui, nous, vous and les. This position remains stable with the ordinary verb order, with negation and with many constructions studied in Word Order.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Le pronom précède le verbe.The pronoun precedes the verb.	Je te voisI see you
Le pronom remplace un complément déjà connu.The pronoun replaces a complement already known.	Elle les attendShe waits for them
Le groupe verbal garde la même position générale.The verb group keeps the same general position.	Nous lui parlonsWe talk to him

Relative clauses begin with who, that, dont or where and add information about a noun. The relative clause follows the noun it specifies and remains integrated with the main clause. It allows constructing more precise descriptions without breaking the base order.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
qui introduit un sujet relatif.who introduces a relative subject.	Le chien qui courtThe dog that runs
que introduit un complément relatif.that introduces a relative clause.	Le livre que j’aimeThe book that I like
dont exprime souvent un lien avec de.dont often expresses a link with de.	La personne dont je parleThe person I am talking about
où indique un lieu ou un moment.where indicates a place or a time.	La ville où je visThe city where I live

Subordinate clauses are introduced by a conjunction such as that, when, if, because or so that. They depend on another clause and specify time, cause, condition or purpose. Their position and function help connect several ideas in a complex sentence, in connection with Propositions and Subordinate Clauses.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
que introduit souvent une proposition complétive.that often introduces a complement clause.	Je pense que tu viensI think that you are coming
quand situe l’action dans le temps.when places the action in time.	Quand il arrive, on mangeWhen he arrives, we eat
parce que exprime la cause.because expresses the cause.	Je reste parce qu’il pleutI stay because it is raining
pour que exprime le but.so that expresses the purpose.	Je parle fort pour que tu m’entendesI speak loudly so that you can hear me

Word order can be altered to emphasize an element, introduce an interrogative word, or build a cleft sentence. These variations are exceptions to the canonical order, but they are common in natural French. They show that French syntax combines a stable base with movements motivated by meaning and register.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Un élément peut être déplacé pour insister.An element can be moved to emphasize.	Ce livre, je l’adoreThis book, I love it
Le mot interrogatif peut ouvrir la phrase.The interrogative word can open the sentence.	Que cherches tuWhat are you looking for
La clivée met une information en relief.The cleft puts information in relief.	C’est Marie qui parleIt is Marie who speaks

The simple French sentence rests on a solid base, then modulates according to the type of statement. The Subject-Verb-Object pattern remains the anchor, while negation, the question, the imperative, pronouns and subordinate clauses modify the arrangement without making it arbitrary. Mastery of these placements allows you to read, produce and analyze everyday sentences with precision.