📝 How to Build Sentences in French? (French Basic Grammar)

One of the first steps in learning French is knowing how to build sentences. The good news? French sentence structure is not as complicated as it seems. With a few basic rules, you can quickly start creating your own sentences.

This guide will show you the basic structure of French sentences, with examples and tips for beginners.

---

1. The Basic French Sentence Structure

Like English, French sentences usually follow the pattern:

👉 Subject + Verb + Object

📌 Examples:

• Je parle français. → I speak French.

• Tu manges une pomme. → You eat an apple.

• Elle regarde la télé. → She watches TV.

---

2. Adding Adjectives

Adjectives describe nouns, but in French, their position can vary. Most adjectives come after the noun.

• Un livre intéressant → An interesting book

• Une maison rouge → A red house

👉 Some common adjectives (beauty, age, goodness, size = BAGS) come before the noun:

• Un petit chien → A small dog

• Une belle journée → A beautiful day

---

3. Making Negative Sentences

To say “not,” wrap the verb with ne … pas.

• Je parle français. → Je ne parle pas français.

• Il mange une pomme. → Il ne mange pas de pomme.

⚠️ In spoken French, people often drop ne:

• Je sais pas. (instead of Je ne sais pas.)

---

4. Asking Questions

There are three common ways to ask a question in French:

1. Rising intonation (informal):

   • Tu viens ? → You’re coming?

2. Est-ce que (neutral):

   • Est-ce que tu viens ? → Are you coming?

3. Inversion (formal):

   • Viens-tu ? → Are you coming?

---

5. Adding Adverbs

Adverbs (like souvent = often, toujours = always, bien = well) usually come after the verb.

• Je parle souvent français. → I often speak French.

• Elle chante bien. → She sings well.

---

6. Word Order Tips

• French is generally subject–verb–object, but negatives, adjectives, and adverbs may change placement slightly.

• Always check agreement:

  • Il est fatigué. (He is tired)

  • Elle est fatiguée. (She is tired)

---

7. Examples of Full Sentences

• Nous habitons à Paris. → We live in Paris.

• Elle a une voiture rouge. → She has a red car.

• Tu ne comprends pas la question. → You don’t understand the question.

• Est-ce que vous aimez la musique ? → Do you like music?

---

✅ Quick Recap

• French basic order = Subject + Verb + Object.

• Adjectives usually go after the noun (except BAGS).

• Negatives = ne … pas around the verb.

• Questions = intonation, est-ce que, or inversion.

• Adverbs usually come after the verb.

---

🎯 Practice Exercise

Transform the following into French sentences:

1. I eat an apple.

2. She doesn’t watch TV.

3. Are you (tu) coming? (use est-ce que)

4. He has a small dog.

5. We often speak French.

Answers:

1. Je mange une pomme.

2. Elle ne regarde pas la télé.

3. Est-ce que tu viens ?

4. Il a un petit chien.

5. Nous parlons souvent français.

---

Conclusion

Building sentences in French is simple once you understand the basic word order: subject + verb + object. Add adjectives, adverbs, negatives, and questions step by step, and you’ll be able to express yourself clearly.

👉 Pro tip: Write three simple sentences every day about your life (positive, negative, and question). This will make French grammar automatic over time.

---

TAGS: how to build sentences in French, French sentence structure beginners, French grammar subject verb object, French basic grammar rules, French word order explained