Quand, Lorsque, Lors de, Pendant

Lesson | Test

What's the difference between the conjunctions quand and lorsque, the similar-looking expressions lorsque and lors de, and the temporal terms lors de and pendant? That's what this lesson is all about.
 

Quand and lorsque are conjunctions that mean when. They are interchangeable when they indicate a simple correlation in time (although lorsque is a bit more formal): 

Je marchais lorsque/quand tu m'as téléphoné.	I was walking when you called me.
Je te verrai demain quand/lorsque j'arriverai.*	I will see you tomorrow when I arrive.

 
However, both quand and lorsque have unique, non-interchangeable meanings also:

Quand
-	temporal correlation (interchangeable with lorsque)
		Quand je t'ai vu, j'avais peur.	When I saw you, I was afraid.
		Quand je te verrai, j'aurai peur.*	When I see you, I will be afraid.
-	repeated correlation (meaning chaque fois que)
		Quand il est là, elle ne parle pas.	When(ever) he is there, she doesn't speak.
		Quand il sera là, elle ne parlera pas.*	When(ever) he is there, she won't speak.
-	interrogative adverb
		Quand vas-tu arriver ?	When are you going to arrive?
		Je ne sais pas quand il reviendra.	I don't know when he will return.
Lorsque
-	temporal correlation (interchangeable with quand)
		Lorsque je t'ai vu, j'avais peur.	When I saw you, I was afraid.
		Lorsque je te verrai, j'aurai peur.*	When I see you, I will be afraid.
-	simultaneous opposition (meaning alors que or tandis que)
		J'ai crié lorsqu'il a fallu courir.	I screamed when (whereas) I should have run.
		Je crierai lorsqu'il faudra courir.*	I'll scream, when (whereas) I should run.

* Note: When the action that follows lorsque or quand has not yet occurred, the verb that follows is in the future, whereas in English the present tense is used.
 

Lors de is used to provide the background for another action; it means at the time of or during.

Lors de son anniversaire, elle était contente.	At the time of her birthday, she was happy.
Je suis arrivé lors du marriage.	I arrived during the wedding.

 
Don't confuse lors de with the preposition pendant. They are interchangeable when they mean during, but they each have another meaning. Lors de can refer to a single moment in time, while pendant can indicate the entire duration of an event.

Elle était contente lors de son séjour à Paris. Elle était contente pendant son séjour à Paris.	She was happy during her stay in Paris.
Elle était contente lors de son anniversaire.	She was happy (for a moment) on her birthday.
Elle était contente pendant son anniversaire.	She was happy during her (entire) birthday.
Elle était contente pendant 3 ans. Lors de cannot be used here.	She was happy for three years.

  

Test on quand, lorsque, lors de, pendant Other confusing pairs     More conjunctions French grammar glossary     Grammar lessons

  

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