Making Statements

Making clear statements in French starts with mastering key sentence patterns and useful linking words. This guide goes through the essential constructions and provides examples to practice.

Basic Sentence Structure

French sentences typically follow a Subject-Verb-Object order, and adjectives usually come after the noun they modify. Keeping this default order makes your statements clear and natural.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
🌅 Je me lùve tît.I get up early.
☕ Je prends un cafĂ©.I have a coffee.
đŸš¶â€â™‚ïž Je marche dans le parc.I walk in the park.

Expressing Time

Use prepositions like en, dans, depuis and time expressions to situate actions relative to the present, past, or future. Time phrases often come at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
⏰ Je me lùve à six heures.I get up at six o’clock.
🌇 Je düne à vingt heures.I have dinner at eight p.m.
🕒 Le cours commence à quinze heures.The class starts at three p.m.

Talking About Habit and Frequency

To describe habitual actions, use the present tense along with adverbs of frequency such as souvent, toujours and expressions like tous les jours. This signals routines rather than single events.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
đŸ—“ïž Je cours tous les matins.I run every morning.
🧮 Je me lave les mains souvent.I wash my hands often.
đŸ›ïž Je fais la sieste parfois.I sometimes take a nap.

Stating Reasons

Link causes to effects with conjunctions like parce que, puisque and car. Placing the reason clause after the result makes your explanation clear and logical.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
đŸŒ§ïž Je reste dedans parce qu’il pleut.I stay inside because it’s raining.
đŸ€’ Je ne sors pas car je suis malade.I’m not going out because I’m sick.
🔧 Je suis en retard puisque j’ai eu une panne.I’m late since I had a breakdown.

Giving Examples

Introduce examples with phrases like par exemple, comme and notamment. These markers help listeners understand that you are illustrating a general point with specific cases.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
đŸ„ Je mange des fruits, par exemple des pommes et des bananes.I eat fruit, for example apples and bananas.
🧮 J’utilise des produits naturels, comme du savon d’avoine.I use natural products, like oatmeal soap.
đŸƒâ€â™€ïž Je fais des exercices, par exemple la course et le yoga.I do exercises, for example running and yoga.

Adding Details

Use connectors such as et, en plus, de plus and aussi to add information. For more formal writing, turn to en outre or de surcroĂźt. Small linking words keep your statement smoothly connected.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
🏠 J’habite dans une maison avec un grand jardin.I live in a house with a large garden.
☕ Je bois du thĂ© vert, qui est trĂšs lĂ©ger.I drink green tea, which is very light.
🐕 J’ai un chien, un labrador trùs joueur.I have a dog, a very playful labrador.

Contrasting Ideas

Show contrast with mais, cependant, toutefois and au contraire. Placing these connectors at the start of the second clause highlights the difference and guides the reader through your argument.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
🌞 Je travaille dehors, mais le soir je me repose.I work outside, but in the evening I rest.
đŸ„— Je mange sainement, pourtant je goĂ»te un dessert.I eat healthily, yet I try a dessert.
đŸš¶â€â™‚ïž Je marche le matin, alors que l’aprĂšs-midi je fais du vĂ©lo.I walk in the morning, whereas in the afternoon I bike.

Summarizing

To sum up or conclude, use expressions like en résumé, en bref, en somme and pour conclure. These phrases signal that you are bringing your points together for a final statement.
French ExampleEnglish Translation
📝 En bref, ma journĂ©e commence tĂŽt et finit tard.In short, my day starts early and ends late.
🔑 VoilĂ , je privilĂ©gie le bien-ĂȘtre au quotidien.That’s it, I prioritize daily well-being.
đŸ§č En somme, j’organise mon temps pour tout faire.Overall, I organize my time to do everything.

Key Vocabulary

French Word(s)English Word(s)
souventoften
toujoursalways
par exemplefor example
en plusmoreover
maisbut
parce quebecause
French ExampleEnglish Translation
🌅 Le matinThe morning
đŸ—“ïž La journĂ©eThe day
🌇 Le soirThe evening
🏃 Faire de l’exerciceTo exercise
🍎 Manger sainTo eat healthy
🧮 Se laverTo wash oneself
đŸ’€ Se reposerTo rest
đŸ—Łïž ParlerTo speak
✍ ÉcrireTo write
📅 PlanifierTo plan

Summary

Clear statements in French rely on sticking to basic word order, using time expressions to situate actions, and employing connectors to link ideas. Practicing these patterns will make your speech and writing more fluent and coherent.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025