Sentences are the building blocks of any language. As you converse more in French, however, you will notice that sentence structure rules can easily be broken and twisted around in everyday conversations.Before you reach that point, however, you need to master the basics first; then, you can go around breaking the rules. Being very familiar with sentence structures is also necessary for writing well inFrench.
So, today, we will be reviewing the following topics related to French sentences:
❑ The basic sentence structure
❑ Types of sentences
❑ Minor sentences and major sentences
❑ The different kinds of simple sentences
❑ The structures of compound and complex sentences
Hopefully, by the end of this topic, you will have a stronger grasp of the variety of sentences and feel more confident when using them, whether in speech or in writing.
Let’s review the basics first.
❑ Just as in English, the basic sentences in French follow the S + V + O structure. Each sentence has two or all three of these: the subject (S), the verb (V), and the object (O).
❑ The subject (un sujet) is the one doing the action in the sentence. It can either be stated or implied. The verb and the object make up the predicate (un prédicat).
❑ Sentences can contain one or multiple clauses.
Let’s look at the different sentence structures.
1. Minor sentences In some cases, complete sentences are not necessary to convey a thought. You can just use a single word, phrase, or clause, and it will likely be understandable. This is common in spoken French, and even in written form.
❑ Minor sentences do not contain a main clause. They could be: • A subordinate clause
Listen to Track 51
Pour être si fort, il faut qu’il y ait eu un entraînement difficile! Parce que c’est l’entraînement qui fait gagner en niveau.
To be so strong, there has to have been hard training! It is the training that upgrades the level.
Pour être star aussi jeune, il faut qu’il y ait eu un coach parental derrière. Parce que c’est souvent le désir du parent qui pousse l’enfant.
To be a star so young, there has to have been a parent coach behind her. Because it’s often the parent’s desire which pushes the child.
(The subordinate clause is underlined)
• A phrase
À voter! To vote!
A vos marques! On your marks!
Simplement hors norme. Simply out of the ordinary.
• A single word
Comment? What?
Bon! Fine!
2. Major sentences The second sentence structures we will look into involve major sentences. These are the full-length sentences that you are familiar with. They contain at least one main clause.Major sentences come in four different structures:
❑ Simple sentence: Contains only one main clause and could be one of the following:
Listen to Track 52
- Declarative: Sentences that declare statements.
Les enfants se précipitent devant l’attraction.
The kids are rushing in front of the attraction. - Interrogative: Sentences that ask questions.
As-tu vu ce film?
Have you seen this movie? - Imperative: Sentences that give a command or request.
Apprenez bien votre leçon!
Learn your lesson! - Exclamative: Sentences usually used to express strong feelings or emotions.
Quel gentil garçon!
What a nice boy!
Compound sentence: Has at least two main clauses which may or may not be linked by a coordinating conjunction. The compound sentences are usually declarative in nature.
Listen to Track 53
Le repas est très bon mais je n’ai plus faim. The meal is very good, but I’m not hungry anymore.
❑ Complex sentence: Has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. These are usually declarative-type sentences as well. The subordinate clause can come before, after, or embedded into the main clause: • Main clause + subordinate clause
Listen to Track 54
Je suis parti lorsqu’ils sont arrivés. I left when they arrived.
• Subordinate clause + main clause
S’il obtempère, récompensez-le. If he complies, reward him.
S’il résiste, pratiquez l’hypnose. If he resists, use hypnosis.
S’il résiste = subordinate clause Pratiquez l’hypnose = main clause
• Main clause + embedded subordinate clause
Ce matin, le véhicule, avec quoi je conduisais, est tombé en panne.
This morning, the vehicle I was driving broke down.
Un jour, une jolie Suédoise, avec qui je sortais, m’a redonné confiance.
One day, a pretty Swedish girl I was going out with gave me back my confidence.
Un jour, une jolie Suédoise = main clause 1st part
avec qui je sortais = subordinate
clausem’a redonné confiance = main clause 2nd part
❑ Compound-complex sentence: Has at least two main clauses and at least one subordinate clause. It is usually declarative and may contain any of the following structures: • Main clause + subordinate clause + main clause
Listen to Track 55
Les Hommes font de grandes choses, mais dès qu’ils n’ont plus d’espoirs, ils détruisent tout.
Humans are doing great things, but as soon as they no longer have hope, they destroy everything.
Des millions d’êtres humains rêvent d’une vie éternelle, et s’il pleut le dimanche après-midi, ils ne savent pas quoi faire.
Millions of human beings dream of eternal life, and if it rains Sunday afternoon, they won’t know what to do.
• Subordinate clause + main clause + subordinate clause + main clause
Lorsque je suis heureux, je m’amuse toute la journée, mais dès que je suis triste, je pleure pendant des jours.
When I’m happy, I have fun all day, but as soon as I’m sad, I cry for days.
Quand nous sommes jeunes, nous dépensons notre santé pour faire fortune; et quand nous sommes vieux, nous dépensons notre fortune pour nous refaire une santé.
When we’re young, we expend our health to build a fortune; when we’re old, we spend a fortune to rebuild our health.
• Main clause + subordinate clause + main clause + subordinate clause + subordinate clause + main clause
Je suis fatigué quand je me couche tôt, alors que je suis en pleine forme quand je mecouche tard en dormant peu, et je ne suis pas fatigué.
I am tired when I go to bed early, whereas I feel great when I go to bed late, sleeping little — I’m not tired.
La femme épouse l’homme en espérant qu’il va changer, et il ne change pas, alors que l’homme épouse la femme en espérant qu’elle ne changera pas, et elle change.
A woman marries a man hoping that he’ll change, and he doesn’t, whereas a man marries a woman hoping that she won’t change, and she does.
Listen to Track 56
Tom: Comment te sens-tu?
Hélène:Je ne me sens pas très bien.
Tom: Si tu es malade, soigne-toi!
Hélène: Aujourd’hui, le médicament avec quoi je me soignais, n’a pas fonctionné!
Tom: Tu es très intelligent, mais quand tu es malade, tu fais pleins de bêtises.
Tom: How are you feeling?
Hélène: I do not feel very good.
Tom: If you’re sick, get well!
Hélène: Today, the medication I took did not work!
Tom: You’re very intelligent, but when you’re sick, you’re full of nonsense.