Subordinating and Coordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions: the Basics
Rule 1: A conjunction creates a logical connection between parts of sentences, whole sentences, or individual words. In French, conjunctions don't change the word order in the sentence.
Native
Translation
J'ai nettoyé la maison pendant que Marta étudiait.
I cleaned the house while Marta was studying.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Rule 2: Subordinating conjunctions connect main and subordinate (dependent) clauses in complex sentenses. Dependent clauses provide additional information (time, reason, purpose, ...) to the sentence - they can't stand alone as a sentence.
Here are a few subordinating conjunctions in French:
| si | if |
| parce que | because |
| comme | like, as |
| après que | before |
| tant que/pendant que | while |
Native
Translation
Je ne peux pas venir parce que je suis malade.
I can't come because I'm sick.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Rule 3: Coordinating conjunctions connect main (independent) clauses with one another without establishing a hierarchy. Independent clauses can form complete sentences and stand alone.
Here are the seven most common coordinating conjunctions in French:
| mais | but |
| ou | or |
| et | and |
| donc | also |
| ni ... ni | neither ... nor |
| car | because |
Native
Translation
Je parle français mais je ne parle pas allemand.
I speak French but I don't speak German.
To learn these coordinating conjunctions, you can use a simple mnemonic:
Mais où est donc Ornicar ? - mais ou est donc or ni car.
Quiz
1/3
___ vous étiez à l'étranger, nous avons étudié.
0
correct answers.