French Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions join dependent (subordinate) clauses to main clauses. A dependent clause cannot stand alone because its meaning is incomplete without the main clause. In addition, sometimes the dependent clause has a verb form that cannot stand alone.

French subordinating conjunctions

• comme   as, since
• lorsque   when
• puisque   since, as
• quand   when
• que   that
• quoique*   even though
• si   if

*Note that quoique must be followed by the subjunctive.

Examples

   J'ai dit que j'aime les pommes.
   I said that I like apples.
The main clause is j'ai dit. What did I say? That j'aime les pommes. J'aime les pommes is incomplete without j'ai dit. I might not in fact like apples, but I said that I did.

   Comme tu n'es pas prêt, j'y irai seul.
   Since you're not ready, I'll go alone.
The main clause is j'y irai seul. Why will I go alone? Because tu n'es pas prêt. The idea here is not that I want to go alone, but the fact that I will go alone since you're not ready.

   Si je suis libre, je t'amènerai à l'aéroport.
   If I'm free, I'll take you to the airrort.
The main clause is je t'amènerai à l'aéroport. Is this guaranteed? No, only si je suis libre. If something else comes up, I can't take you.

   J'ai peur quand il voyage.
   I am scared when he travels.
The main clause is j'ai peur. When am I scared? Not all the time, only quand il voyage. So j'ai peur is incomplete without the juxtaposition quand il voyage.


*For subordinating conjunctions like afin que and parce que, see conjunctive phrases.


Keep learning

   Introduction to French conjunctions
   French coordinating conjunctions
   French coordinating conjunctions for emphasis
   French subordinating conjunctions
   French conjunctive phrases

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