Ainsi, Alors, Donc; Après, Ensuite, Puis - "Then" in French

The English word "then" has two distinct meanings: one related to consequence and the other to time. These two meanings translate differently into French, and the various synonyms further complicate matters:

• Ainsi, alors, and donc are commonly used to explain the consequences or effect of an action
• Après, ensuite, and puis are used to indicate the order of events

This lesson should help you to understand the difference between all of these terms and thus use them correctly.


Ainsi - Alors - Donc   |   Après - Ensuite - Puis


Ainsi

1) (adverb) so, thus, therefore

Ainsi, j'ai décidé de partir
So I decided to leave

J'ai perdu mon emploi, ainsi je ne peux pas acheter la voiture
I lost my job, so I can't buy the car

This use of ainsi is interchangeable with donc - see below.

2) this way, like that

Si tu vas agir ainsi, je ne peux pas t'aider
If you're going to act like that, I can't help you

C'est ainsi ; tu dois l'accepter
That's the way it is; you have to accept it

Ainsi va la vie
Such is life

Ainsi soit-il
So be it

3) ainsi que (conjunction) - just as, like, as well as

Ainsi que j'avais pensé…
Just as I thought…

Je suis impressioné par son intelligence ainsi que son honnêteté
I am impressed by his intelligence as well as his honesty

Alors

1) (adverb) then, so, in that case

Tu ne vas pas à la fête ? Alors, moi non plus
You're not going to the party? Then I won't either

Elle ne comprend pas, alors il faut l'aider
She doesn't understand, so we need to help her

Je n'ai pas mangé, alors il est difficile de me concentrer
I didn't eat, so it's difficult to concentrate

When used in this way, alors is more or less interchangeable with the first meanings of ainsi and donc; however, alors is not as strong in its cause/effect - it means "so" or "then" rather than "therefore." In other words, ainsi and donc indicate that something happened, and specifically because of that something else happened. Alors, on the other hand, is more of a "well then I guess this will/did happen."

2) (filler) so, then, well

Alors, qu'est-ce qu'on va faire ?
So what are we going to do?

Alors là, je n'en sais rien
Well, I don't know anything about that

Et alors ?
And then? So what?

3) at that time

Il était alors étudiant
At that time, he was a student, He was a student at the time

Le président d'alors Bill Clinton…
The president at that time, Then-president Bill Clinton…

4) alors que (conjunction) - at that time, while; even though

Il est allé à la banque alors que je faisais les achats
He went to the bank while I did the shopping

Il est sorti alors que je ne voulais pas
He went out even though I didn't want to

Donc

1) (conjunction) therefore, so, thus

Il n'est pas arrivé, donc j'ai dû manger seul
He didn't arrive, so I had to eat alone

Je pense, donc je suis (René Descartes)
I think, therefore I am

This usage of donc is interchangeable with the first meaning of ainsi - the only difference is that donc is a conjunction and, in theory, must join two clauses, whereas ainsi can be used with one or two clauses. In reality, donc is often used with just one clause as well: Donc je suis allé… - So I went…When used in this sense, both ainsi and donc indicate a cause/effect relationship.

2) then, it must be, in that case

Si ce n'est pas Philippe c'est donc Robert
If it's not Philippe then it is (it must be) Robert

J'ai perdu mon stylo donc celui-ci est à toi
I lost my pen so this one must be yours

3) (intensifier or filler) then, so

Donc, elle était enceinte ?
Was she pregnant, then? So was she pregnant?

Voilà donc notre conclusion
So here is our conclusion

Qui donc êtes-vous ?
So who are you?

Allons donc !
Come on (already)!

This usage is similar to the way "so" is used in English. Technically, "so" indicates a cause/effect relationship, but it is often used colloquially as a filler. For example, you might greet someone and say "So I bought a car" or "So, are you going out tonight?" even though nothing was said previously that the "so" is linking back to.


Page 2: Après - Ensuite - Puis

Also see my lesson on conjunctions of conclusion - parce que, puisque, car, comme

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