Conjunctions in French – A complete list with examples

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One essential aspect of mastering French is understanding the significance of conjunctions, which play a pivotal role in connecting ideas and shaping the structure of sentences and paragraphs.

 

Understanding Conjunctions

In order to master French, it's crucial to understand conjunctions. These little words, often taken for granted, serve as the glue that binds different elements of a sentence together, enhancing clarity and coherence.

Conjunctions can be categorized into several groups, each serving a unique purpose. Let's explore some of the key conjunctions and their functions in the French language:

 

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions, such as “et” (and), “mais” (but), and “ou” (or), serve to connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. They facilitate the formation of compound sentences and contribute to the rhythm of speech.

  1. et – and
  2. mais – but
  3. ou – or
  4. donc – therefore, so
  5. or – yet, but
  6. ni – neither, nor
  7. car – for, because

Examples:

  • “et” (and): Marie aime le chocolat et les fraises. (Marie likes chocolate and strawberries.)
  • “ou bien” (or else): Tu peux prendre le bus ou bien le métro. (You can take the bus or else the subway.)
  • “donc” (so): Il pleut, donc nous devons rester à la maison. (It's raining, so we have to stay home.)
  • “car” (because): Il ne peut pas venir, car il est malade. (He can't come because he is sick.)

 

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses that cannot stand alone as complete sentences. These conjunctions establish relationships of cause, effect, time, or condition between the main clause and the subordinate clause.

  1. que – that
  2. parce que – because
  3. quand – when
  4. lorsque – when
  5. comme – as, since
  6. puisque – since
  7. si – if
  8. bien que – although
  9. quoique – although
  10. pour que – so that
  11. afin que – in order that
  12. avant que – before
  13. après que – after
  14. jusqu'à ce que – until
  15. à condition que – provided that
  16. sans que – without
  17. de sorte que – so that
  18. malgré que – despite

Examples:

  • “quand” (when): Quand il pleut, nous restons à la maison. (When it rains, we stay at home.)
  • “si” (if): Si tu viens, je serai content. (If you come, I will be happy.)
  • “pendant que” (while): Elle lit un livre pendant que son frère joue. (She is reading a book while her brother is playing.)
  • “après que” (after): Il est rentré après que la pluie a cessé. (He came back after the rain stopped.)

 

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to connect parallel elements within a sentence. Common correlative pairs include “ni…ni” (neither…nor), “soit…soit” (either…or), and “tant…que” (as long as).

  1. soit… soit – either… or
  2. non seulement… mais aussi – not only… but also
  3. ni… ni – neither… nor
  4. ou… ou – either… or
  5. tantôt… tantôt – sometimes… sometimes

Examples:

  • “ni…ni” (neither…nor): Il n'aime ni le poisson ni la viande. (He likes neither fish nor meat.)
  • “autant que” (as much as): J'aime autant le thé que le café. (I like tea as much as coffee.)
  • “aussi bien que” (as well as): Il danse aussi bien que sa sœur. (He dances as well as his sister.)
  • “tantôt…tantôt” (sometimes…sometimes): Il est tantôt triste, tantôt joyeux. (He is sometimes sad, sometimes happy.)

 

Conjunctive Phrases

Conjunctive phrases, such as “bien que” (although), “depuis que” (since), and “afin que” (so that), are used to introduce dependent clauses with specific meanings. These phrases are crucial for expressing complex ideas and relationships.

  1. afin que – so that, in order that
  2. bien que – although, even though
  3. à condition que – provided that
  4. pour que – so that
  5. de sorte que – so that
  6. de façon que – so that, in such a way that
  7. de manière que – so that, in such a way that
  8. de peur que – for fear that
  9. à moins que – unless
  10. avant que – before
  11. sans que – without
  12. jusqu'à ce que – until
  13. malgré que – despite
  14. pourvu que – provided that
  15. en attendant que – while, until
  16. dès que – as soon as
  17. aussitôt que – as soon as
  18. après que – after
  19. depuis que – since (time)
  20. tant que – as long as
  21. parce que – because
  22. vu que – given that
  23. étant donné que – given that
  24. quand bien même – even if
  25. sous prétexte que – under the pretext that
  26. dans la mesure où – insofar as
  27. de telle sorte que – in such a way that
  28. de crainte que – for fear that

Examples:

  • Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il travaille dur. (Although he is tired, he works hard.)
  • “afin de” (in order to): J'étudie le français afin de voyager en France. (I am studying French in order to travel to France.)
  • “pour que” (so that): Elle parle lentement pour que tout le monde comprenne. (She speaks slowly so that everyone understands.)
  • “bien que” (although): Bien qu'il fasse froid, je vais sortir. (Although it's cold, I'm going out.)

 

Other Common Conjunctions

  1. si bien que – so much so that
  2. tandis que – while, whereas
  3. depuis que – since (time)
  4. dès que – as soon as
  5. aussitôt que – as soon as
  6. pourvu que – provided that
  7. quoique – although
  8. autant que – as much as
  9. aussi bien que – as well as