French Grammar
Instructor
Euclide Solutions
Category
French Grammar
Conjunctions Aide Memoire
In this aide-mémoire, we will highlight the various conjunctions introducing subordinate clauses in French sentences. These are advanced concepts but will help you score well on the oral and grammar exams. They typically introduce an adverbial phrase (complement circonstanciel). The choice of the right conjunction is what determines the logical relationship between the adverbial phrase and the rest of the sentence. It is therefore important to understand that logic, or else it may become misleading or puzzling to a reader/listener.
These will account for 1-2 questions on the grammar test that are directly related to this topic, but they will appear in various forms that you are required to know in order to understand the exam question context on a number of other questions. Knowing these will improve your ability to perform well on the oral exam.
Conjunctions are classified depending on the relationship (or type of information) it conveys in relation with the rest of the sentence.
In addition, the verbs that follow conjunctions have to be in a certain tense (indicative, subjunctive, conditional, or infinitive) depending on the relationship. That tense or mood is in parenthesis in this table, in their shortened forms: ind., subj., cond. and inf.
Note: The term “indicative” mood is used here as it is a verb that is expressing an action as a statement of fact. Where possible, we’ve indicated present tense next to it to make it easier to understand and since this will be the most common way you will see this mood.
| Conjunction | Example | Precision if needed |
| Expressing goal/objective (but) | ||
| Afin que (subj.)
Afin de (inf.) |
Afin que tout se passe bien, des outils sont fournis. / So everything goes well, tools will be available.
Les lumières s’éteignent automatiquement à 19h00 afin d’économiser de l’électricité. / Lights go out automatically at 7 pm to save on electricity. |
These two are very popular on the exam. Note the subjunctive here following que. |
| De crainte que … ne(subj.) | J’ai fait des provisions de crainte que l’épicerie ne soit fermée demain. / I stocked up for fear that the grocery store would be closed tomorrow. | These expressions come with a “ne” that doesn’t have a negative value, it is only part of the expressions. |
| De peur que … ne(subj.) | De peur qu’elle ne se perde, j’ai écrit mon numéro de téléphone dans ses vêtements. / Fearing she would get lost, I wrote my phone number in her clothes. | |
| De façon à ce que (subj.) | Les instructions sont aussi claires que possible, de façon à ce que tous comprennent. / The instructions are as clear as possible, so everyone can understand them. | |
| De manière que (subj.) | La compagnie organise des séminaires de manière que les employés puissent se développer professionnellement. / The company sets up seminars to let employees grow professionally | |
| Pour que (subj.) | Pour que je puisse compléter le dossier, j’ai besoin de certains détails. / To close the file, I need some details. | |
| Expression the cause/reason (cause) | ||
| Comme (ind. or cond.) | Comme tu n’es pas arrivé (ind.) à l’heure, je suis partie sans toi. / Because you didn’t arrive on time, I went without you. | If the cause is real, the verb uses the indicative/present tense. If the cause is only a possibility, the verb uses the conditional tense. |
| Puisque (ind. or cond.) | Il a menti puisque la vérité serait(cond.) trop difficile à croire. / He lied because the truth would be hard to believe. | |
| Du moment que (ind. or cond.) | Du moment que tout le monde est (ind.) d’accord, je n’ai pas d’objections. / Since everyone is happy, I don’t object. | |
| Étant donné que (ind. or cond.) | Étant donné qu’on ne connait (ind.) pas ces gens, mon enfant ne peut aller à leur fête. / Because we do not know these people, my child cannot go to their party. | |
| Parce que (ind. or cond.) | Le syndicat a décidé de négocier parce que ce serait (cond.) irresponsable de tout refuser en bloc. / The union elected to negotiate because it would be irresponsible not to. | |
| Vu que (ind. or cond.) | Vu que tout le monde est (ind.) d’accord, l’évènement sera reporté. / As everyone is in agreement, the event will be postponed. | |
| Expessing consequence (conséquence) | ||
| À tel point que /au point que (ind. or cond.) | La vendeuse était insolente, à tel point que j’ai quitté (ind.) le magasin sans rien acheter. / The saleswoman was disrespectful, so much so, that I left without buying anything. | If the consequence is real, the verb uses the indicative tense. If the cause is only a possibility, the verb is in the conditional tense. |
| De sorte que (ind. or cond.) | J’ai bien étudié, de sorte que je devais (cond.) obtenir un bon résultat. / I studied such that I should get a good result. | |
| Si bien que (ind. or cond.) | J’ai oublié mon portefeuille, si bien que j’ai dû quêter deux dollars à un inconnu. / I forgot my wallet at home, so I had to beg a stranger for $2. | |
| Si …. que (ind. or cond.)
Tellement … que (ind. or cond.) |
Je suis si heureuse que rien ne pourrait(cond.) m’empêcher de sourire. / I am so happy that nothing could stop me from smiling.
Cet appartement est tellement petit que je peux (ind.) voir toutes les pièces à partir de la porte d’entrée. / This apartment is so small that I can see every room from the entrance. |
This goes with an adjective and therefore will be placed in a different place in the sentences |
| Expressing comparison (comparaison) | ||
| Comme (ind. or cond.) | Comme le disait (ind.) Ghandi, nous devons être le changement que nous souhaitons voir dans le monde. / Like Ghandi said, we should be the change we want to see in the world. | Idea of equality, evenness between two things |
| De même que (ind. or cond.) | De même que nous ne pouvons (ind.) retenir notre souffle indéfiniment, les baleines doivent revenir à la surface périodiquement. / Just as we cannot hold our breath forever, whales have to come to the surface every so often. | |
| Aussi … que (ind. or cond.) | Les filles sont (ind.) aussi entrepreneuses que les garçons, selon un nouveau sondage. / Girls are as daring as boys, says new survey.
Les filles seraient (cond.) aussi entrepreneuses que les garçons, selon un nouveau sondage. / Girls are as daring as boys, the new survey says. |
Ideas of equality: This goes with an adjective and therefore will be placed in a different place in the sentence.
Note that the use of conditional making clear that this is speculation rather than fact. |
| Moins … que (ind. or cond.) | Apparemment, Jean supporterait (cond.) moins bien la chaleur que Sophie. / Apparently, Jean would bear the heat less than Sophie. | Idea of inferiority |
| Plus … que (ind. or cond.) | Sophie est plus patiente que moi. / Sophie has more patience than me. | Idea of superiority |
| Comme si (cond.) | L’entreprise gère son personnel comme s’il n’y avait (cond.) pas de pénurie de main de l’œuvre. The organization deals with personnel as if there wasn’t a labor shortage. | Idea of similarity between situations |
| Expressing a condition or an hypothesis (condition – hypothèse) | ||
| Si (ind.) | Si Jérôme était promu, il serait un excellent patron. / If Jérôme was promoted, he would make an excellent boss. | If the condition is achievable, the verb is in the indicative.
If it is an eventuality, it is conditional.
If it conveys doubt, it is subjunctive. |
| Même si (ind.) | Même ma femme l’aime beaucoup, je n’irai pas voir son concert. / Even though my wife likes her very much, I would not go to her concert. | |
| Sauf si (ind) | J’arriverai à temps sauf s’il y a des embouteillages. / I will be on time unless there is a traffic jam (or traffic jams). | |
| À moins que (subj.) | À moins que ma mère accepte de garder, je ne pourrai pas y être. / Unless my mother accepts to babysit, I won’t be there. | |
| À condition que (subj.) | Je serai là à l’heure à condition que la route soit dégagée. / I will be on time provided that the roads are clear. | |
| Pourvu que (subj.) | J’aurai ce qu’il faut pourvu qu’il en reste au magasin. / I will have what we need as long as the store has everything. | |
| Au cas où (cond.) | Il faut apporter un parapluie au cas où il pleuvrait. / We have to bring an umbrella in case it rains. | |
| Quand bien même (cond.) | Quand bien même il ferait beau, je n’ai pas envie d’aller dehors. / Even if it was sunny, I still have no intention of going outside. | |
| Expressing opposition (opposition) | ||
| Quoique (subj.) | Quoique les gens en disent, ce tableau me plait. / Whatever people say about it, I like this painting. | Note how “me plait” is translated to English. The literal translation would be “it is pleasing to me” or “it to me is pleasing”. |
| Bien que (subj.) | Le projet a été rejeté bien qu’il soit intéressant. / The project has been rejected, although it is interesting. | |
| Malgré que (subj.) | Malgré que l’eau du robinet soit saine, je préfère l’eau embouteillée. / Despite the tap water being fine to drink, I prefer bottled water. | |
| Alors que (ind. or cond.) | Justine travaille sur les maquettes alors que Martin conçoit la mise en marché. / Justine works on the models while Martin designs the marketing. | Note that this is not related to time but to highlight that they are working on different things. |
| Tandis que (ind. or cond.) | Julien aimerait aller aux Bahamas tandis que Carole souhaiterait rester au pays pour ses vacances. / Julien would like to vacation in the Bahamas while Carole wishes she could stay in Canada. | |
| Expressing time (temps) | ||
| Comme (ind.) | Tout le monde est parti comme j’arrivais (ind.). / Everyone left just as I arrived. | |
| Quand (ind. or cond.) | J’ai prévu que quand il arriverait (cond.), il serait seul. / I foresaw that when he would come, he would be alone. | |
| Lorsque (ind. or cond.) | Lorsqu’il est arrivé, il a tout changé (ind.). / When he arrived, he changed everything. | |
| Alors que (ind. or cond.) | Alors que l’autobus s’arrêtait (ind.), Micheline a levé les yeux. / As the bus was stopping, Micheline looked up. | Note that this is not conveying an opposition, but to highlight that events are happening simultaneously. |
| Tandis que (ind. or cond.) | J’en ai profité tandis que tout le monde dansait (ind.). / I took my chance while everyone was dancing. | |
| Après que (ind. or cond.) | Joachim fait la sieste après qu’il a dîné (ind.). / Joachim naps after he has had lunch. | Principal action comes after the action in the adverbial clause. |
| Aussitôt que (ind. or cond.) | On lui a dit qu’elle serait appellée aussitôt qu’il y aurait (cond.) des nouvelles. / She was told that she would be contacted as soon as there was any news. | |
| Dès que (ind. or cond.) | Dès que le bureau est (ind.) aménagé, vous pourrez décorer votre espace de travail. / As soon as the office is ready, you can decorate your work station. | |
| Au moment où (ind. or cond.) | Je l’ai su au moment où je l’ai vu (ind.). / I knew the moment I saw it. | |
| Depuis que (ind. or cond.) | Depuis qu’il est parti (ind.), tout a changé. / Since he’s been gone, everything changed. | |
| En même temps que (ind. or cond.) | Je dois faire le souper en même temps que les enfants font leurs devoirs. / I have to cook dinner at the same time as the kids do their homework. | |
| Une fois que (ind. or cond.) | Une fois que vous aurez rempli le formulaire, sonnez la cloche. / Once you have completed the form, ring the bell. | |
| Avant que (subj.) | Joachim dîne avant qu’il fasse la sieste. / Joachim eats lunch before he naps. | Principal action comes before the action in the adverbial clause |
| En attendant que (subj.) | Je me repose en attendant que ma pause ne finisse. / I relax as I wait for my break to be over. | |
| Jusqu’à ce que (subj.) | Je ferai du bénévolat jusqu’à ce que je n’en sois plus capable. / I will volunteer until I cannot anymore. | |
General rules for the verbal conjugations in adverbial clauses (subordonnée circonstancielle):
- When conjunctions are followed with a verb in the indicative mood (most often present tense), it conveys the meaning that what follows is a reality.
- When conjunctions are followed with a verb in the conditional (this is different than in English), it means that what follows is a possibility, not yet a reality.
- When conjunctions are followed with a verb in the subjunctive, it conveys the meaning that what follows is envisioned by the mind, a thought, or something in an imprecise future.