Declarative Sentences – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Choose the correct option for each field in order to construct a complete sentence that makes sense.

subjectpredicatedirect objectindirect object
Constance gives her sister a CD.
Hervé explains his problem to Julie.
The children surprise their parents.

Construct sentences, paying attention to word order.

  1. les pommes/je préfère/aux poires
    →   The direct object comes before the indirect object.I prefer apples to pears.
  2. à sa cousine/écrit/Julie/une lettre
    →   The direct object comes before the indirect object.Julie writes a letter to her cousin.
  3. raconte/à sa sœur/une histoire/Pascal
    →   The direct object comes before the indirect object.Pascal tells his sister a story.
  4. beaucoup de livres/prête/à ses lecteurs/la bibliothèque
    →   The direct object comes before the indirect object.The library lends many books to its patrons.
  5. cache/l’immeuble jaune/à notre maison/le soleil
    →   The direct object comes before the indirect object.The yellow building blocks the sunlight from our house.

Complete the sentences, paying attention to word order.

  1. Les grands-parents font souvent (aux petits-enfants/des cadeaux)  This sentence follows the general rule: the direct object comes before the indirect object.Grandparents often give their grandchildren gifts.
  2. Julie a présenté (un exposé sur son animal préféré/à sa classe)  In order to make the sentence clearer, French word order places the extended direct object after the indirect object.Julie gave a presentation to her class about her favourite animal.
  3. Eric et Julie montrent (le jeu qu’ils ont appris en vacances/aux voisins)   The direct object is extended with a relative clause, and therefore is placed after the indirect object.Eric and Julie are showing their neighbours the game that they learned on holiday.
  4. Amandine a donné (à Georges/une claque qui lui a fait mal)  The direct object is extended with a relative clause, and therefore is placed after the indirect object.Amandine gave Georges a slap that hurt him.
  5. Internet offre (au journalisme/de nouveaux moyens)  The direct object comes before the indirect object.The internet offers new possibilities for journalism.