In a simple French declarative sentence, the basic order is subject + verb + complement. The subject says who performs the action or who we are talking about, then the verb gives the action or the state, then the complement specifies the information. In Marie mange une pomme, Marie is the subject, mange is the verb, and une pomme is the complement. This organization corresponds to the most neutral structure of Structure de la phrase.

Basic order of affirmation

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In a simple affirmation, the subject comes before the verb.

The subject generally comes before the verb in a French affirmative sentence. We say Le train arrive, Les enfants jouent, Je travaille. The subject can be a noun, a pronoun or a noun phrase, but its place remains before the conjugated verb. Even when the subject is long, it keeps this position: La voisine de mon frère parle fort. The verb is not placed before the subject in an ordinary affirmation.

Normal place of the subject

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In an affirmative sentence, the subject generally precedes the verb.

Complements often follow the verb in a simple sentence. After manger, acheter, voir or prendre, one places the object or the essential information that completes the verb: Il lit un livre, Nous avons acheté du pain, Tu regardes la télévision. The verb opens the space for the complement. When the sentence remains direct and neutral, the complement comes after the verbal group.

Typical placement of complements

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In a simple sentence, the complement often follows the verb.

To describe the subject with an adjective, one uses être + adjective. The adjective does not complete an action, it gives a quality or a state: Paul est fatigué, La soupe est chaude, Mes parents sont contents. The verb être links the subject to the description. The adjective agrees with the subject, so we say elle est prête, ils sont prêts. If one wants to present a characteristic of the subject, this structure is the natural form.

Subject attribute with to be

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We use to be to connect the subject to an adjective.

Time and place complements are placed most often after the verb or at the end of the sentence. We say Nous partons demain, Elle travaille à Paris, Ils vivent dans ce quartier depuis deux ans. The time answers when and the place answers where. When there are several complements, we often keep the order verb + place complement + time complement, as in Je vais au bureau le matin. The verb remains at the center, and these complements specify the frame of the action.

Placement of time and place markers

Usage	Explanation
Final time marker	We often place the time complement at the end to keep the sentence clear.
Final spatial marker	We often put the place complement after the verb or at the end of the sentence.

A sentence can start with an adverb or with a complement to foreground information. We can say Aujourd’hui, je reste à la maison, Dans ce village, tout le monde se connaît, Rapidement, il a fermé la porte. The subject and the verb remain present, but the element placed at the beginning draws attention. This arrangement serves to establish first the time, the place or the manner, then to give the rest of the information. The reader or listener immediately understands the frame before the action.

Movement of the highlighted information

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We can start with an adverb or a complement to draw attention to information.

Object pronouns are placed before the conjugated verb in French. We say Je le vois, Elle lui parle, Nous les attendons, Il m’écoute. The pronoun replaces a known noun and sticks in front of the verb. In a sentence with an infinitive, the pronoun stays before the infinitive: Je vais le prendre. With a conjugated verb, it comes just before this verb. This position is part of the normal order of pronouns in French, as in Structure de la phrase.

Placement of object pronouns

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In French, the object pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb.

A relative clause adds a specification to a noun. It often begins with qui, que, où or dont: L’homme qui parle est mon oncle, Le livre que j’ai acheté est cher, La ville où nous habitons est grande. The relative clause stays attached to the noun it describes. A subordinate clause completes a verb or a noun: Je pense qu’il vient, Elle sait que tu pars, Le fait qu’il soit malade change tout. The relative clause identifies or specifies a noun; the complement clause provides the content of a thought, of a speech, of a certainty or of a noun like the fact or the idea.

Addition of precision and content

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A relative clause specifies a noun with a relative pronoun.
A that-clause completes a verb or a noun with a clause.