French Basic Grammar: Conjunctions in French

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🔗 French Basic Grammar: Conjunctions in French (With Examples)

Conjunctions (les conjonctions) are small but powerful words that connect words, phrases, or sentences.

Just like in English (“and, but, because, although”), French conjunctions are essential for building smooth, natural sentences.

This lesson covers the main types of French conjunctions, with rules and examples to help you master them.

1. What Are Conjunctions in French?

A conjunction is a word that links:

  • Two words (pain et fromage → bread and cheese)

  • Two phrases (Je lis parce que j’aime apprendre → I read because I like to learn)

  • Two sentences (Il est venu, mais elle est partie → He came, but she left)

French conjunctions are divided into two main categories:

  1. Coordinating conjunctions (conjonctions de coordination)

  2. Subordinating conjunctions (conjonctions de subordination)

2. Coordinating Conjunctions

These link two equal parts (words, phrases, or clauses).

The classic list in French is mais, ou, et, donc, or, ni, car — often remembered with the acronym “M.O.E.D.O.N.C.”

Conjunction Meaning Example
et and J’aime le cafĂ© et le thĂ©. → I like coffee and tea.
ou or Tu veux du pain ou du riz ? → Do you want bread or rice?
mais but Il est intelligent mais paresseux. → He is smart but lazy.
donc so, therefore Il pleut, donc je reste à la maison. → It’s raining, so I’m staying home.
or yet, however Il voulait venir, or il Ă©tait malade. → He wanted to come, yet he was sick.
ni
 ni neither
 nor Je n’aime ni le cafĂ© ni le thĂ©. → I like neither coffee nor tea.
car because, for Je reste ici car je suis fatiguĂ©. → I’m staying here because I’m tired.

3. Subordinating Conjunctions

These introduce a dependent clause (subordinate clause) that cannot stand alone.

Conjunction Meaning Example
parce que because Je sors tît parce que je travaille demain. → I’m leaving early because I work tomorrow.
quand when Je t’appellerai quand j’arriverai. → I’ll call you when I arrive.
si if Je viendrai si j’ai le temps. → I’ll come if I have time.
lorsque when Je lis lorsque je prends le train. → I read when I take the train.
comme as, since Il est restĂ© comme il faisait froid. → He stayed since it was cold.
puisque since, because Je vais dormir tĂŽt puisque je suis fatiguĂ©. → I’m going to bed early since I’m tired.
afin que so that *Il Ă©tudie beaucoup **afin qu’*il rĂ©ussisse. → He studies a lot so that he succeeds.
bien que although *Je sors **bien qu’*il pleuve. → I’m going out although it’s raining.

4. Correlative Conjunctions

Some conjunctions work in pairs to balance ideas:

  • autant
 que → as much
 as

  • plutĂŽt
 que → rather
 than

  • soit
 soit → either
 or

Examples:

  • Il est autant intelligent que travailleur. → He is as smart as he is hardworking.

  • Je prendrai soit du cafĂ© soit du thĂ©. → I’ll take either coffee or tea.

5. Examples in Sentences

  • J’aime lire, mais je n’ai pas de temps. → I like reading, but I don’t have time.

  • Tu viens avec nous ou tu restes ici ? → Are you coming with us or staying here?

  • *Il pleure **parce qu’*il est triste. → He cries because he is sad.

  • *Elle continue **bien qu’*elle soit fatiguĂ©e. → She continues although she is tired.

✅ Quick Recap

  • Coordinating conjunctions: et, ou, mais, donc, or, ni, car

  • Subordinating conjunctions: parce que, si, quand, puisque, afin que, bien que

  • Correlative pairs: soit
 soit, autant
 que

👉 Conjunctions are essential for connecting ideas and making your French sentences more natural.

🎯 Practice Exercise

Translate into French:

  1. I like apples and pears.

  2. He is tired because he worked a lot.

  3. Either we stay here or we go out.

  4. I’ll come if I have time.

  5. She left although it was late.

Conclusion

Mastering conjunctions in French will help you create more complex and fluid sentences. Whether you’re joining simple words (pain et fromage), or connecting full ideas (Je reste parce qu’il pleut), conjunctions are indispensable in everyday French.

👉 Pro tip: Try to add at least one conjunction every time you write a sentence in French — it will instantly make your speech sound more advanced.

 

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