French conjunctive phrases
- à condition que* provided that
- afin que* so that
- ainsi que just as, so as
- alors que while, whereas
- à mesure que as (progressively)
- à moins que** unless
- après que after, when
- à supposer que* assuming that
- au cas où in case
- aussitôt que as soon as
- avant que** before
- bien que* although
- dans l'hypothèse où in the event that
- de crainte que** for fear that
- de façon que* in such a way that
- de manière que* so that
- de même que just as
- de peur que** for fear that
- depuis que since
- de sorte que* so that, in such a way that
- dès que as soon as
- en admettant que* assuming that
- en attendant que* while, until
- encore que* even though
- jusqu'à ce que* until
- parce que because
- pendant que while
- pour que* so that
- pourvu que* provided that
- quand bien même even though/if
- quoi que* whatever, no matter what
- sans que** without
- sitôt que as soon as
- supposé que* supposing
- tandis que while, whereas
- tant que as long as
- vu que seeing as/that
**These conjunctions require the subjunctive and ne explétif.
Examples
Il travaille pour que vous puissiez manger.
He works so that you can eat.
The main clause is il travaille. Why does he work? Pour que vous puissiez manger. The idea here is not that you can eat, but the fact that you can eat because he works. Another clue is that vous puissiez manger cannot stand alone - the subjunctive is only found in subordinate clauses.
J'ai réussi à l'examen bien que je n'aie pas étudié.
I passed the test even though I didn't study.
The main clause is j'ai réussi à l'examen. How did I pass the test? Certainly not by studying, since je n'ai pas étudié. So j'ai réussi à l'examen is incomplete without the juxtaposition bien que je n'aie pas étudié.
Il est parti parce qu'il avait peur.
He left because he was afraid.
The main clause is il est parti. Why did he leave? Because il avait peur. The idea il avait peur is incomplete without the main clause il est parti.
Keep learning
Introduction to French conjunctions
French coordinating conjunctions
French coordinating conjunctions for emphasis
French subordinating conjunctions
French conjunctive phrases
