Basic French Sentence Structure

Building French Sentences: It’s Easier Than You Think!

When it comes to making French sentences, the formula is simple and familiar! If you’ve ever built a sentence in English, you already know the basics of French sentence structure. Ready to see how it works?

French Sentence Formula

At its core, a French sentence follows the same pattern as English:
Subject + Verb + Object
It’s that easy! Let’s break it down:

• Subject: The person or thing doing the action (like “I”, “you”, “Marie”, etc.).
• Verb: The action being done (like “speak”, “eat”, “run”).
• Object: The thing or person affected by the action (like “pizza”, “music”, “the book”).

Examples of Simple French Sentences

• Je mange une pomme.
  (I eat an apple.)
  → “Je” is the subject, “mange” is the verb, and “une pomme” is the object.
• Tu aimes le cinéma.
  (You like the cinema.)
  → “Tu” is the subject, “aimes” is the verb, and “le cinéma” is the object.
• Marie lit un livre.
  (Marie reads a book.)
  → “Marie” is the subject, “lit” (reads) is the verb, and “un livre” is the object.

Word Order: Same, but Sometimes Different!

In most cases, French word order is like English. But when it comes to adjectives, French can get a little quirky. Often, the adjective comes after the noun. For example:

• Un chien noir
  (A black dog)
  → In French, the word for “black” (noir) follows the noun chien (dog).

Negative Sentences in French

Want to say you don’t like something? Just surround the verb with ne…pas:

• Je ne mange pas de chocolat.
  (I don’t eat chocolate.)
  → “Ne” goes before the verb mange, and “pas” goes after.

Practice Time: Build Your Own Sentences!

1. Subject + Verb + Object:
   • Start with a simple sentence: “Je parle français.” (I speak French.)
   • Now try using other verbs or objects: “Tu manges une salade.” (You eat a salad.)
2. Negative Sentences:
   • Add ne…pas: “Je ne parle pas anglais.” (I don’t speak English.)
   • Try it with a new verb: “Marie ne regarde pas la télé.” (Marie doesn’t watch TV.)

Grammar Breakdown

• Subject + Verb + Object is the standard French sentence structure.
• Adjectives often follow nouns in French.
• To form negatives, use ne…pas around the verb.

With this simple sentence formula in hand, you’re ready to start building tons of sentences in French. Whether positive or negative, now you know how to structure them all!