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French

Basic Syntax Rules

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Basic syntax rules in French cover the foundational principles for constructing correct sentences, including word order, subject-verb agreement, and the use of negation, questions, and modifiers.

Word Order

French uses a fixed word order to maintain clarity and meaning in sentences.
  • The standard word order is Subject + Verb + Object.
  • Adjectives usually follow nouns (e.g., une voiture rouge), but some come before (e.g., un beau jardin).
  • Adverbs typically follow the verb (e.g., Il parle lentement).

Examples

FrenchEnglish
Je mange une pomme.I eat an apple.
La fille chante une chanson.The girl sings a song.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Verbs must agree with their subjects in both person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural).
  • Singular subjects use singular verb forms (e.g., il mange).
  • Plural subjects use plural verb forms (e.g., ils mangent).
  • Compound subjects use plural verb forms (e.g., Marie et Paul sont partis).

Examples

FrenchEnglish
Elle parle français.She speaks French.
Nous regardons un film.We watch a movie.

Negation

Negation in French typically involves two parts: ne and pas, which surround the conjugated verb.
  • Ne comes before the verb, pas* comes after.
  • In spoken French, ne is often dropped (e.g., Je sais pas).
  • Other negative expressions (e.g., ne jamais, ne rien) follow the same pattern.

Examples

FrenchEnglish
Je ne comprends pas.I do not understand.
Ils ne sortent jamais.They never go out.

Questions

There are three main ways to form questions in French:
  1. Add est-ce que before a statement (e.g., Est-ce que tu viens ?).
  2. Use inversion of subject and verb (e.g., Viens-tu ?).
  3. Raise intonation in spoken French (e.g., Tu viens ?).

Examples

FrenchEnglish
Est-ce que tu aimes le chocolat ?Do you like chocolate?
Aimes-tu le chocolat ?Do you like chocolate?
Tu aimes le chocolat ?Do you like chocolate?

Modifier Placement

  • Adjectives generally follow nouns (e.g., un chat noir), but some precede (e.g., un petit chat).
  • Adverbs usually follow the verb (e.g., Il parle doucement).
  • Time and place expressions typically come at the end of the sentence (e.g., Je pars demain).

Examples

FrenchEnglish
Elle a un grand jardin.She has a big garden.
Il travaille rapidement.He works quickly.
Nous partons ce soir.We are leaving tonight.

Where do adverbs usually appear relative to the verb?


After the verb

Adverbs typically follow the verb, as in "Il parle doucement."

Summary

French syntax is rule-based but not overly complex. The main principles to remember are:
  • Use Subject + Verb + Object word order.
  • Ensure subject-verb agreement in person and number.
  • Form negation with ne ... pas around the verb.
  • Create questions using est-ce que, inversion, or intonation.
  • Follow standard placement rules for adjectives, adverbs, and phrases.
By mastering these basic rules, you can confidently build a wide range of correct French sentences.

Where do you typically place adjectives, adverbs, and time expressions in French sentences?


Adjectives after nouns, adverbs after verbs, time expressions at the end

Standard placement is adjectives after nouns (except some), adverbs after verbs, and time/place expressions at the end.

Flashcards (1 of 12)

    • English: I eat an apple.

    Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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