Conjunctions in French : complete course

What Is a Conjunction in French?

A conjunction in French (une conjonction) is a small word that connects two words, two phrases, or two clauses together. Think of it as a bridge between ideas. Without conjunctions, your sentences would be short, choppy, and hard to follow.

For example, instead of saying ‘I like coffee. I like tea.’, you can say ‘I like coffee and tea.’ That little word ‘and’ is a conjunction. In French, it works exactly the same way — just with different words!

Simple Examples to Get Started

• Je parle français et je parle espagnol. — I speak French and I speak Spanish.
• Il est fatigué mais il travaille. — He is tired but he is working.
• Elle mange parce qu’elle a faim. — She is eating because she is hungry.
• Tu viens ou tu restes? — Are you coming or staying?

As you can see, conjunctions are short words that appear very often in everyday French. Learning them will quickly improve your fluency.

The Main Elements of French Conjunctions

French conjunctions are divided into two main groups. Understanding both groups will help you build more natural and complex sentences.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions (Les conjonctions de coordination)

These conjunctions connect two elements of the same type — two nouns, two verbs, two clauses, etc. They are simple and very common. A useful trick to remember them in French is the acronym MAIS OU ET DONC OR NI CAR.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions (Les conjonctions de subordination)

These conjunctions introduce a dependent clause. This means the clause they introduce cannot stand alone — it needs the main clause to make sense. They are a little more complex but very useful at an intermediate level.

• parce que (because) — Elle est triste parce qu’elle a perdu son chat.
• quand (when) — Appelle-moi quand tu arrives.
• si (if) — Si tu veux, on peut aller au cinéma.
• bien que (although) — Bien qu’il soit tard, il continue à travailler.
• pour que (so that) — Je t’explique pour que tu comprennes.

3. Conjunctive Phrases (Les locutions conjonctives)

Some conjunctions are made of more than one word. These are called conjunctive phrases. They are very common in spoken and written French.

• afin que — so that
• à condition que — provided that
• avant que — before
• après que — after

Why French Conjunctions Matter

Using conjunctions correctly makes your French sound more natural and fluent. They allow you to express cause, contrast, conditions, and consequences — all essential for real conversations and writing.

Without conjunctions, you can only say very short, basic sentences. With them, you can tell stories, explain your opinions, and describe complex situations. They are the key to moving from beginner-level sentences to real, connected communication in French.

Comparison with Other Languages

If you already speak English or Spanish, good news: the concept of conjunctions is the same. The challenge is just learning the French equivalents.

One important difference: some French subordinating conjunctions like bien que and pour que require the subjunctive mood (le subjonctif). This is not always the case in English or Spanish. This is something you will explore more as you progress in French.

A Full Example

Here is a short paragraph using several different conjunctions. Try to identify each one as you read:

‘Je veux apprendre le français parce que c’est une belle langue. Je pratique tous les jours, mais c’est parfois difficile. Si je travaille régulièrement, je ferai des progrès. Je lis et j’écoute des podcasts pour que mon niveau s’améliore. Bien que ce soit un défi, je ne veux pas abandonner.’

• parce que — gives a reason
• mais — shows contrast
• si — introduces a condition
• et — links two actions
• pour que — expresses a goal
• bien que — introduces a concession (with subjunctive)

Key Takeaways

• Conjunctions are words that connect ideas in a sentence.
• There are two main types: coordinating (simple links) and subordinating (dependent clauses).
• The most common coordinating conjunctions can be remembered with: MAIS OU ET DONC OR NI CAR.
• Some subordinating conjunctions require the subjunctive — keep this in mind as you advance.
• Using conjunctions will make your French much more natural and expressive.

Start small: try using one or two new conjunctions each day in your practice sentences. Little by little, they will become second nature!

Sources

• Grevisse, M. & Goosse, A. (2011). Le Bon Usage. De Boeck Supérieur.
• Riegel, M., Pellat, J.-C. & Rioul, R. (2009). Grammaire méthodique du français. Presses Universitaires de France.
• Conseil de l’Europe (2001). Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECRL). Editions Didier.