In everyday spoken French, speakers often emphasize the main topic of a sentence by moving it to the very beginning or the very end. This structure is extremely common, especially when venting about daily frustrations like the commute.
Emphasizing at the Beginning (Fronting)
To highlight a specific noun, pull it to the front of the sentence, add a comma, and use a matching pronoun in the main clause to "echo" it.
If fronting an object, echo it with a direct object pronoun (le, la, l', or les):
| This traffic jam, we endure it during the whole trip! | Ce bouchon, nous le subissons pendant tout le trajet ! |
If fronting the subject, echo it with a subject pronoun (il, elle, ils, or elles):
| This infernal noise, it really exasperates me. | Ce bruit infernal, il m'exaspère vraiment. |
| The traffic, it is infernal today! | La circulation, elle est infernale aujourd'hui ! |
Emphasizing at the End (Backing)
Alternatively, move the topic to the end of the sentence. Start with the pronoun, make your statement, and clarify what the pronoun refers to at the end, separated by a comma.
This often acts as an afterthought, a clarification, or a way to add extra dramatic weight to your complaint.
| They are inevitable however, these traffic jams. | Ils sont pourtant inévitables, ces bouchons. |
| They exasperate me, all the people who honk! | Ils m'exaspèrent, tous les gens qui klaxonnent ! |
You can also place a direct object at the end, having referred to it with le, la, l', or les earlier:
| I do not know it however, this long detour. | Je ne le connais pourtant pas, ce long détour. |