🇫🇷 French
Français • Latin
Word order: what’s normal (and how to sound natural)
Understand the default word order and a simple strategy to avoid ‘translation‑English’.
The key idea
French is mostly SVO, but pronouns often come before the verb (Je le vois = I see it).
- Memorize patterns (whole sentences), not just single words.
- When you change the meaning, keep the grammar skeleton the same.
- If word order is flexible, use ‘neutral’ order first — emphasis comes later.
Je suis ici.
I am here.
Je veux de l'eau.
I want water.
Je ne comprends pas.
I don't understand.
Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ?
Do you speak English? (formal/plural)
Où sont les toilettes ?
Where are the toilets?
C'est mon ami.
This is my friend.
Tiny practice routine
Pick one sentence and create 5 variations. Example: ‘I want water’ → water/coffee/tea/ticket/help.
- Speak each variation out loud.
- Record yourself and compare rhythm.
Mini‑quiz
Mini-quiz
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Typical word order for this language is closest to…