French Sentence Mechanics
Ditch dusty conjugation tables and learn how French sentences actually snap together. Master genders, core verbs, and structural tweaks that let you express real thoughts immediately.
Like Duolingo, but for French Sentence Mechanics. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
A short one: 9 levels across 2 sections, about 18 minutes end to end, roughly 4 days at five minutes a day. It moves through Assembling Your First Statements and Shaping and Flipping Thoughts. It starts from scratch.
Free forever · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in French Sentence Mechanics
- French assigns grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) to every noun, even inanimate objects that have no biological sex
- An object's physical qualities or cultural stereotypes do not determine its gender; gender belongs to the French word itself
- The accompanying article (such as 'un/une' or 'le/la') is the primary signal of a noun's grammatical gender
- Noun endings like '-tion' and '-ie' are reliable patterns signaling feminine nouns in French
- Noun endings like '-ment' and '-age' are reliable patterns signaling masculine nouns in French
- Spotting regular word endings allows learners to deduce gender without brute-force memorization
- English speaks about broad categories or abstract concepts without an article ('I like coffee', 'Peace is precious')
- French requires a definite article ('le', 'la', 'l'', 'les') when stating general truths, preferences, or broad categories
- Verbs of preference like 'aimer' or 'détester' take definite articles in French even when speaking about things in general
- The plural '-s' or '-x' at the end of French nouns is almost always silent in speech
- 'Chat' and 'chats' are pronounced exactly the same by a French speaker
- In regular -er verbs, the endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent, so je, tu, il/elle, and ils/elles forms all sound identical
- Only the nous (-ons) and vous (-ez) forms produce different spoken endings
- Spelling distinguishes verb forms on paper even when the spoken rhythm sounds the same
- French subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.) are strictly mandatory because many verb forms sound identical aloud
- Without a subject pronoun, a French listener cannot tell who is performing the action
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives French Sentence Mechanics the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
What decides whether an object is masculine or feminine in French?
Get it right to open this lesson and 8 more in the app.
How to learn French Sentence Mechanics, step by step
Go in order. 9 short levels across 2 sections, about 18 minutes in all, five minutes a day.
- 1
Assembling Your First Statements
- Noun Handles: Gender and Articles
- Powering the Verb Engine
- 2
Shaping and Flipping Thoughts
- Describing Things with Adjectives
- Flipping to Negatives and Questions
2 sections · 4 units · 9 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
Questions about French Sentence Mechanics
How do I learn French Sentence Mechanics?
Go in order: start with Assembling Your First Statements, then Shaping and Flipping Thoughts. On Tomo that's 9 short levels, about 18 minutes in all, played five minutes a day. Start free and play the first level in under a minute.
Is there a Duolingo-style app for French Sentence Mechanics?
Yes. Tomo works like Duolingo: short daily lessons, streaks and quick quizzes. French Sentence Mechanics is one of its free courses, and you can type any other topic to get a course of your own.
Is the French Sentence Mechanics course free?
Yes. French Sentence Mechanics is playable on Tomo's free plan, which doesn't expire. No credit card, no waitlist. Download the app and start your first lesson.
How long does it take to learn French Sentence Mechanics?
9 levels across 2 sections, about 18 minutes of play in total. It's built for five minutes a day, so you finish it a little at a time instead of all at once.
Do I need any background to start French Sentence Mechanics?
No. It's pitched at a beginner level, so it starts where you are and builds up. If you can tap a phone, you can start.
Tomo is in ChatGPT
Tomo is also a ChatGPT plugin: the same playable courses, built and played inside your chat.
Add Tomo to ChatGPT- What to ask
- “Make me a Tomo course on black holes.” “Turn this chat into a Tomo course.”
- What you get
- Quick questions with instant feedback, hearts and stars, ready to play in about a minute.
- Where it goes
- No sign-up to start. Connect your Tomo account and your streak carries on in the app.
You pick the voice
French Sentence Mechanics is taught in the Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More Language on Tomo
Speaking Polish: Sentence by Sentence
Start speaking Polish by understanding how words fit together naturally. Learn why verb endings do the heavy lifting, how nouns shift when they receive action, and how to build clear sentences without getting lost in grammar charts.
Everyday English Sentences
Build confidence in basic English by mastering the foundational sentence structures used in daily conversation. Learn how to state ideas clearly, ask questions, sound polite, and link your thoughts smoothly.
Latin Sentence Building
Learn to write clear, grammatically sound Latin sentences for your school assignments. Discover how case endings, word order, and agreement fit together so you can submit your work with complete confidence.
Speaking Everyday Tagalog
Unlock the rhythm of conversational Filipino without getting tangled in complex textbook grammar. Learn how to flip your sentence structure, use essential markers, and master everyday Taglish for real-world interactions.
Speaking French from Day One
Stop memorizing lists and start building your own sentences. Learn the secret patterns that make French verbs easy and unlock the ability to express yourself in any situation.
Spanish Grammar for Real Conversations
Build a solid foundation in Spanish by understanding how sentences are actually constructed. Move beyond vocabulary lists to express your own thoughts clearly and correctly.
Start French Sentence Mechanics today.
Download Tomo, search French Sentence Mechanics, and play your first lesson in under a minute.