Types of Sentences
Elements of a Sentence | Les éléments d’une phrase
Types of Sentences | Les types de phrases
In French, as in English, there are four types of sentences:
- a declarative sentence | une phrase déclarative,
- an interrogative sentence | une phrase interrogative,
- an exclamatory sentence | une phrase exclamative,
- and an imperative sentence | une phrase impérative.
Declarative Sentence | La phrase déclarative
A declarative sentence makes a statement. A declarative sentence ends with a period [.].
- The snow falls gently on the rooftops. | La neige tombe doucement sur les toits.
- The sun shines in the (mostly) clear sky. | Le soleil brille dans le ciel peu nuageux.
- Paul plays in the pile of multicoloured leaves. | Paul joue dans le tas de feuilles multicolores.
- The water in the pool is warm. | L’eau dans la piscine est tiède.
Interrogative Sentence | La phrase interrogative
An interrogative sentence asks a question. An interrogative sentence ends with a question mark [?].
In French an interrogative sentence may be created in different ways:
- by placing the interrogative expression << Est–ce que >> at the beginning of the question
- Will it be sunny tomorrow? | Est-ce qu’il fera soleil demain?
- Are the children playing in the snow? | Est-ce que les enfants jouent dans la neige?
- by inverting the subject/pronoun and the verb
- Will it be sunny tomorrow? | Fera-t-il soleil demain?
- Are they playing in the snow? | Jouent-ils dans la neige?
*Note: A hyphen is used when a subject pronoun follows a verb. When the French verb ends with an e or an a and the subject pronoun is either il, elle or on, the letter t is inserted between the verb and the pronoun. A hyphen is placed before and after the t (e.g., fera-t-il, mange-t-elle, regarde-t-on).
- by adding a personal pronoun (which agrees in number and gender with the subject of the verb) after the verb
- Is Paul playing in the pile of leaves? | Paul joue-t-il dans le tas de feuilles?
- Is the water warm? | L’eau est-elle tiède?
- by using interrogative expressions/question words at the beginning of the question
- Whom did you invite? | Qui as-tu invité?
- What do you want? | Que voulez-vous?
- What are you thinking about? | À quoi penses-tu?
- Which book do you want? / Which one do you want? | Quel livre veux-tu? Lequel veux-tu?
- Which apple do you want? / Which one do you want? | Quelle pomme veux-tu? Laquelle veux-tu?
- Which pencils do you like? / Which ones do you like? | Quels crayons aimes-tu? Lesquels aimes-tu?
- Which programs do you prefer? / Which ones do you prefer? | Quelles émissions préfères-tu? Lesquelles préfères-tu?
- How are you? | Comment allez-vous? , Comment ça va?
- Where does she live? | Où habite-t-elle?
- Why is the sky blue? | Pourquoi le ciel est-il bleu?
- When are you leaving? | Quand partez-vous?
- How many tickets does he want? | Combien de billets veut-il?
- How many team mates have you invited? | Combien d’équipiers as-tu invités?
Exclamatory Sentence | La phrase exclamative
An exclamatory sentence conveys a strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation mark [!].
- The weather is so nice today! | Comme il fait beau aujourd’hui!
- Pierre-Oh and Pierrette are so funny! | Pierre-Oh et Pierrette sont tellement drôles!
Imperative Sentence | La phrase impérative
An imperative sentence gives a command. An imperative sentence may end with a period [.] or an exclamation mark [!] .
- Close the door, please. | Fermez la porte, s’il vous plaît.
- Be careful! | Fais attention!
- Let’s go see the event. | Allons voir l’évènement.
*Note: An imperative sentence is formed with the imperative tense of a verb. The subject or subject pronoun is implied but not used in the imperative.
The four types of sentences may be in a positive form or in a negative form.
A Negative Sentence | La phrase négative
A negative sentence expresses a negative opinion or states that something is not true or incorrect. In French, a negative sentence is usually created by adding two negation words with ne or n’ placed in front of the verb.
Key negation words | Les mots de négation les plus communs
ne / n’ … pas
I dislike disorder. | Je n’aime pas le désordre.
ne / n’ … plus
It is no longer sunny. | Il ne fait plus soleil.
ne / n’ … jamais
jamais … ne / n’
The dog never sleeps on the bed. | Le chien ne dort jamais sur le lit.
The athlete never doubts his/her success. | Jamais l’athlète ne se doute de sa réussite.
ne / n’ … rien
rien … ne / n’
The birds have not eaten anything. | Les oiseaux n’ont rien mangé.
Nothing happened. | Rien n’est arrivé.
ne / n’ … personne
personne … ne / n’
I did not see anybody. | Je n’ai vu personne.
Nobody listens to me. | Personne ne m’écoute.
ne / n’ … aucun
aucun … ne / n’
I have no idea. | Je n’ai aucune idée.
No program is associated with that file. | Aucun programme n’est associé à ce fichier.
ni … ni … ne / n’
ne / n’… ni … ni…
Neither Pierre-Oh nor Pierrette came to the game. | Ni Pierre-Oh ni Pierrette ne sont venus à la joute.
The weather is neither wet nor cold. | Le temps n’est ni pluvieux ni froid.