Declarative Sentences in French Grammar
A declarative sentence (une phrase affirmative simple) makes a statement, gives an opinion, shares a thought, declares a fact etc. Declarative sentences usually have the following word order: subject – verb – object. In French, as in English, the subject has to come at the beginning of the sentence.
Grammar_SentenceStructure_Declarative.ex_text
In French, just like in English, it is impossible to change the position of the subject (the dog) and the object (the ball) without completely changing the meaning of the sentence.
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Word order in French sentences
Grammar_SentenceStructure_Declarative.order_desc
| Subject | Verb | Direct Object | Indirect Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandrine | a montré | le chemin | à ses amis. |
Secondary Rule: If the direct object has a relative clause attached to it, then the indirect object usually comes first.
Grammar_SentenceStructure_Declarative.secondary_rule_ex
What is mise en relief?
Grammar_SentenceStructure_Declarative.relief_desc
C’est / Ce sont … qui / que / dont …
Place the element you want to emphasise at the beginning:
Ce qui / Ce que / Ce dont …, c’est/ce sont …
Place the element to emphasise towards the end:
Adverbs
Adverbs and adverbial phrases can come at the beginning of a sentence, in the middle, or at the end. Putting an adverb at the end often emphasises its importance.
Demain, Charles ira faire du vélo.
Charles ira demain faire du vélo.
Charles ira faire du vélo demain.
Practice Declarative Sentences
Reinforce your understanding of French sentence order and emphasis through interactive practice.