đź”— 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:
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Two words (pain et fromage → bread and cheese)
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Two phrases (Je lis parce que j’aime apprendre → I read because I like to learn)
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Two sentences (Il est venu, mais elle est partie → He came, but she left)
French conjunctions are divided into two main categories:
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Coordinating conjunctions (conjonctions de coordination)
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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 café et le thé. → 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 était malade. → He wanted to come, yet he was sick. |
| ni… ni | neither… nor | Je n’aime ni le café ni le thé. → I like neither coffee nor tea. |
| car | because, for | Je reste ici car je suis fatigué. → 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 tôt 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 resté comme il faisait froid. → He stayed since it was cold. |
| puisque | since, because | Je vais dormir tôt puisque je suis fatigué. → I’m going to bed early since I’m tired. |
| afin que | so that | *Il étudie beaucoup **afin qu’*il réussisse. → 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:
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autant… que → as much… as
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plutôt… que → rather… than
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soit… soit → either… or
Examples:
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Il est autant intelligent que travailleur. → He is as smart as he is hardworking.
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Je prendrai soit du café soit du thé. → I’ll take either coffee or tea.
5. Examples in Sentences
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J’aime lire, mais je n’ai pas de temps. → I like reading, but I don’t have time.
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Tu viens avec nous ou tu restes ici ? → Are you coming with us or staying here?
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*Il pleure **parce qu’*il est triste. → He cries because he is sad.
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*Elle continue **bien qu’*elle soit fatiguée. → She continues although she is tired.
âś… Quick Recap
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Coordinating conjunctions: et, ou, mais, donc, or, ni, car
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Subordinating conjunctions: parce que, si, quand, puisque, afin que, bien que
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Correlative pairs: soit… soit, autant… que
👉 Conjunctions are essential for connecting ideas and making your French sentences more natural.
🎯 Practice Exercise
Translate into French:
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I like apples and pears.
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He is tired because he worked a lot.
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Either we stay here or we go out.
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I’ll come if I have time.
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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.
TAGS:
- French conjunctions
- Conjunctions in French grammar
- French coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
- French grammar basics with examples
- How to use et, mais, ou, donc in French