French sentence structure is based on a set of rules that govern how words are ordered and combined to convey meaning. Unlike English, French has strict rules for word order, especially in standard declarative sentences. However, it also allows for some flexibility, particularly in questions and literary styles. Understanding these rules will help you form correct and natural-sounding sentences.
Word Order
French sentences typically follow a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, similar to English. This means the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object (if there is one).
- Subject: The person or thing doing the action.
- Verb: The action or state of being.
- Object: The person or thing receiving the action (optional).
Examples:
- Je mange une pomme. (I eat an apple.)
- Il lit un livre. (He reads a book.)
Negation
To make a French sentence negative, wrap the verb with ne ... pas. The word ne comes before the verb, and pas comes after.
- Je ne mange pas de viande. (I do not eat meat.)
- Elle ne sort pas ce soir. (She is not going out tonight.)
In spoken French, the ne is often dropped, especially in informal contexts:
- Je mange pas de viande.
- Elle sort pas ce soir.
Questions
. Using est-ce que
Place est-ce que at the beginning of a statement to turn it into a question. The rest of the sentence remains in normal word order.
- Tu aimes le chocolat. → Est-ce que tu aimes le chocolat ? (Do you like chocolate?)
. Inversion
Invert the subject pronoun and verb, adding a hyphen between them. If the verb ends in a vowel and the subject is il, elle, or on, insert a -t- for pronunciation.
- Tu viens. → Viens-tu ? (Are you coming?)
- Il parle. → Parle-t-il ? (Does he speak?)
. Using n’est-ce pas
Add n’est-ce pas at the end of a statement to create a yes/no question, similar to “isn’t it?” or “right?” in English.
- Tu viens, n’est-ce pas ? (You’re coming, aren’t you?)
. Using Question Words
Place the question word at the beginning, followed by either est-ce que or inversion.
- Où est-ce que tu habites ? (Where do you live?)
- Pourquoi part-il si tôt ? (Why is he leaving so early?)
Common French question words:
| French | English Example | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| qui | who | Qui est là ? (Who’s there?) |
| que / quoi | what | Que fais-tu ? (What are you doing?) |
| où | where | Où vas-tu ? (Where are you going?) |
| quand | when | Quand part-il ? (When is he leaving?) |
| pourquoi | why | Pourquoi ris-tu ? (Why are you laughing?) |
| comment | how | Comment ça va ? (How are you?) |
| combien | how much / how many | Combien ça coûte ? (How much does it cost?) |
Common Patterns
. Simple Declarative
Subject + Verb + (Object)
- Je regarde la télévision. (I watch TV.)
. Negative
Subject + ne + Verb + pas + (Object)
- Il ne fume pas. (He does not smoke.)
. Question with est-ce que
Est-ce que + Subject + Verb + (Object) ?
- Est-ce que tu viens ? (Are you coming?)
. Inversion Question
Verb + - + Subject Pronoun + (Object) ?
- Parle-t-elle anglais ? (Does she speak English?)
. Object Pronouns
Subject + [Object Pronoun] + Verb + (Rest)
Object pronouns (me, te, le, la, nous, vous, les) come before the verb.
- Je le vois. (I see him/it.)
- Nous vous attendons. (We are waiting for you.)
Summary
- French uses Subject-Verb-Object order for most sentences.
- Negatives are formed by wrapping the verb with ne ... pas.
- Questions can be made using est-ce que, inversion, or question words.
- Object pronouns always precede the verb.
- There are special rules for forming questions and for pronoun placement.
With these rules, you can form a wide range of correct and natural French sentences.
Flashcards (1 of 7)
- Example Question: Qui est là ? (Who’s there?)
- English Example: who
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
