Separation of possession

Question

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if this sentence must always be written in this Order:

François, dont j'ai rencontré la femme le mois dernier.

The lesson says that there are cases in which we find the possession separated by a verb, but there is no explanation about whether that is a rule that must always followed or is another way of expressing things.

Is it correct to write it like this?

François, dont la femme j'ai rencontré le mois dernier.

Thanks!

Accepted Answer

Hi Jess,
If you say it, the way you suggest, it sounds like Yoda ( of Star Wars fame).
So this is a mistake the French will never make.
I am not aware of a specific rule but it appears that if the possessed 'thing' you are talking about is the object of the verb it goes after it but if it is the subject it goes before the verb.
Une fille, dont le frère travaillait avec moi..
Tu as jeté la chaussure, dont le talon est cassé.
but
Marc, dont la sœur est journaliste
François, dont la femme est journaliste
but
François, dont j'ai rencontré la femme
Hope this helps!