The composed phrases in French
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Sign up for freeThe composed phrase (French: la phrase composée) consists of two independent phrases which can be coordinated or juxtaposed propositions, and thus contains two conjugated verbs.
Examples
| Propostion | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Juxtaposée | Nous ne sommes plus amis, je n'ai plus de ses nouvelles | (We are not friends anymore, I have no news of him) |
| Coordination | Ton gâteau a l'air bon mais je n'ai plus faim | (Your cake seems good but I am not angry) |
Lesson outline
HideWhat is a coordinated phrase in French ?
When the sentence is composed of two coordinated propositions, we use a coordination conjunction to link the two propositions.
- mais (but)
- où (where)
- et (and)
- donc (so)
- or (thus)
- ni (nor)
- car (because)
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Marta F. 
Valérie F. 
Yabina L. 
Bernadette H.
Rania B. 
MARINE C.
Kelly P.
Laure P.
Marina D.
Surella R. 
Examples
| Conjunction | Composed phrase | Translations |
|---|---|---|
| Mais | Thomas voulait partir avec lui mais il n'y avait plus de place | (Thomas wanted to go with him but there was any place) |
| Où | Vous dites à votre père où vous allez avant de sortir | (Tell your dad where you are going before you leave) |
| Et | Il se repose et dans cinq heures, il viendra chez toi | (He is resting and in five hours, he will come at yours') |
| Or | Tout le monde l'admire or c'est un dépressif | (Everyone admire him thus he is just a depressed guy) |
| Ni | Tu ne m'as pas aidé ni donné des conseils | (You didn't helped nor gave me advice) |
| Car | Léo a acheté une nouvelle voiture car l'école des enfants est loin | (Leo bought a new because the children's school is far) |
What is a juxtaposed phrase sentence in French ?
When the sentence is composed of two juxtaposed propositions, we use a punctuation mark between the propositions.
- a comma (,)
- a semicolon (;)
Examples
| mark | Composed phrase | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Comma | Nous sommes restées amis, nous nous appelons souvent | (We remained friends, we often talk) |
| Semicolon | Je cherche du boulot, je parle; j'étudie rien | (I search for work, I speak; I study nothing) |