The declarative French sentence generally follows the order subject, verb, complement. The verb occupies a central position, and essential complements organize themselves around it according to Word Order. Adverbs and circumstantial complements add details and can be placed before or after the verbal group depending on their function and the register.

ÉlémentElement.	PlacePosition.	ExempleExample.
SujetSubject.	En têteAt the head.	Le chat dort calmement.The cat sleeps calmly.
VerbeVerb.	Deuxième positionSecond position.	Le chat dort calmement.The cat sleeps calmly.
ComplémentComplement.	Après le verbeAfter the verb.	Le chat mange une souris.The cat eats a mouse.
Complément circonstancielAdverbial complement.	Souvent en périphérieOften on the periphery.	Le chat dort dans le salon.The cat sleeps in the living room.

An independent clause contains a subject and a verb, with or without complements, and can form a complete sentence by itself. It expresses autonomous information without depending on another clause. This structure serves as the basis for all more complex constructions and is organized according to the principles of Affirmations.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Une proposition indépendante peut constituer une phrase complète.An independent clause can constitute a complete sentence.	Il pleut.It is raining.
Le sujet et le verbe suffisent pour construire l’ossature.The subject and the verb are sufficient to form the backbone.	Marie arrive.Marie arrives.
Les compléments ajoutent des précisions sans changer l’autonomie.Complements add details without changing the autonomy.	Marie arrive ce soir.Marie arrives tonight.

Coordination links several independent clauses on an equal footing. The conjunctions and, but, or, and so articulate the basic relations between ideas without creating syntactic dependence. It allows chaining short sentences into a more fluid and denser structure.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Et ajoute une idée de même niveau.And adds an idea of the same level.	Je lis et j’écris.I read and I write.
Mais marque l’opposition.But marks the opposition.	Il veut sortir mais il reste ici.He wants to go out but he stays here.
Ou présente une alternative.Or presents an alternative.	Tu viens ou tu restes.Are you coming or staying?
Donc indique une conséquence.Thus indicates a consequence.	Il pleut donc nous rentrons.It's raining, so we go home.

The relative clause depends on an antecedent that it specifies or identifies. It is introduced by qui, que, dont, or où, and it follows the noun it completes. This link is fundamental for Relative Pronouns and for enriching a noun phrase without creating a new independent sentence.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Qui remplace souvent le sujet de la subordonnée.Qui often replaces the subject of the subordinate clause.	L’homme qui parle est mon voisin.The man who is speaking is my neighbor.
Que remplace souvent le complément d’objet.Que often replaces the object complement.	Le livre que je lis est court.The book that I am reading is short.
Dont exprime souvent un lien de possession ou de dépendance.Dont (whose/of which) often expresses a possessive or dependent relationship.	La personne dont je parle est absente.The person I am speaking about is absent.
Où marque le lieu ou le moment.Where marks the place or the moment.	La ville où j’habite est grande.The town where I live is large.

The complement clause completes the meaning of a main verb, often after an idea of statement, thought, or perception. It is usually introduced by que, and sometimes by si, depending on the type of question or doubt expressed. It plays an essential role in verbal syntax and is closely tied to the framework of subordinating conjunctions.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Que introduit un contenu affirmé ou rapporté.Que introduces content that is asserted or reported.	Je pense que tu viens.I think that you are coming.
Si introduit souvent une interrogation indirecte.Si often introduces an indirect question.	Je demande s’il pleut.I ask whether it is raining.
La complétive complète le verbe principal.The complement clause completes the main verb.	Elle sait que nous partons.She knows that we are leaving.

The adverbial clause adds a value of time, cause, purpose, or consequence to the main clause. It is introduced by a subordinating conjunction such as lorsque, parce que, afin que, or puisque depending on the desired logical relationship. The mood chosen varies with the nature of the relation and the register, with more or less frequent use of the subjunctive or the indicative.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le temps situe l’action dans le déroulement.Time situates the action within its unfolding.	Je t’appellerai lorsque j’arriverai.I will call you when I arrive.
La cause explique la raison.The cause explains the reason.	Nous restons parce qu’il pleut.We stay because it is raining.
Le but indique l’intention.The goal indicates the intention.	Il parle fort afin que tout le monde entende.He speaks loudly so that everyone can hear.
La conséquence présente le résultat.The consequence presents the result.	Il fait froid si bien que nous fermons la fenêtre.It is so cold that we close the window.

Infinitive and gerund constructions express a syntactic relation without an explicitly repeated subject. The infinitive often appears after a verb, a preposition, or a movement verb, while the gerund emphasizes simultaneity or manner. These forms condense information and allow a more flexible syntax than developed subordination.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
L’infinitif condense une action sans sujet exprimé.The infinitive condenses an action without an expressed subject.	Il aime lire avant de dormir.He likes to read before going to sleep.
Le gérondif indique souvent la simultanéité.The gerund often indicates simultaneity.	Il marche en chantant.He walks while singing.
Les formes réduites allègent la phrase.Reduced forms lighten the sentence.	En entrant, elle sourit.As she enters, she smiles.

Complement pronouns are generally placed before the conjugated verb or before the auxiliary in compound tenses. The canonical negation frames the verb with ne and pas, while plus and jamais add other negative values depending on the context, as in Negations. In spoken French, the ne often drops, which produces very frequent forms like je sais pas.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le pronom complément précède le verbe conjugué.The object pronoun precedes the conjugated verb.	Je le vois.I see it.
Le pronom précède l’auxiliaire dans un temps composé.The pronoun precedes the auxiliary in a compound tense.	Je l’ai entendu.I heard it.
Ne et pas encadrent la négation standard.Ne and pas frame standard negation.	Je ne comprends pas.I do not understand.
Plus et jamais renforcent la valeur négative.Plus and jamais reinforce the negative value.	Elle ne vient plus.She no longer comes.

Interrogation can be built by intonation, by est-ce que, or by subject–verb inversion. These forms vary with the degree of formality, inversion being more marked in a formal style and intonation being very common in speech. Direct and indirect questions are integrated into the general syntax of clauses and subclauses.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
L’intonation suffit à marquer la question.Intonation alone marks the question.	Tu viens ce soirAre you coming tonight?
Est ce que introduit une question neutre.Est-ce que introduces a neutral question.	Est ce que tu viensAre you coming?
L’inversion donne un ton plus soutenu.Inversion gives a more formal tone.	Viens tu ce soirAre you coming tonight?

The French sentence is organized first around a subject-verb nucleus, then enriched by coordination, subordination, and reduced forms. Relative clauses specify a noun, complement clauses complete a verb, and adverbial clauses locate the logical relation between ideas. Mastery of word order, object pronouns, interrogation, and negation enables producing sentences that are more varied, more natural, and more precise.