The 20 cards in this deck

The connectors and structures that link your ideas.

• il faut que + subjonctifIt's necessary that. Triggers the subjunctive.Il faut que tu viennes = You have to come
• je veux que + subjonctifI want (someone) to. A wish about another person takes the subjunctive.Je veux que tu sois là = I want you to be there
• il est important que + subjonctifIt's important that. Impersonal value judgements trigger the subjunctive.Il est important que tu saches ça = It's important that you know this
• bien que + subjonctifAlthough / even though. Always takes the subjunctive.Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il travaille = Although he's tired, he works
• pour que + subjonctifSo that / in order that. Purpose with a different subject takes the subjunctive.Je parle lentement pour que tu comprennes = I speak slowly so that you understand
• avant que + subjonctifBefore. Always takes the subjunctive (vs après que + indicative).Partons avant qu'il pleuve = Let's leave before it rains
• à condition que + subjonctifOn the condition that / provided that. Takes the subjunctive.Je viens à condition que tu sois là = I'll come provided you're there
• je ne pense pas que + subjonctifI don't think that. Doubt/negation of opinion triggers the subjunctive.Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne = I don't think he'll come
• parce que vs puisqueBoth mean 'because'; parce que gives a reason, puisque presents it as already known.Puisque tu es là, aide-moi = Since you're here, help me
• cependantHowever / nevertheless. Formal contrast connector at the start of a clause.C'est cher ; cependant, j'achète = It's expensive; however, I'll buy it
• pourtantYet / and yet. Signals a surprising contradiction.Il a étudié, pourtant il a échoué = He studied, yet he failed
• doncSo / therefore. Introduces a consequence or conclusion.Je pense, donc je suis = I think, therefore I am
• alors queWhereas / while. Marks a contrast between two facts.Il dort alors que je travaille = He sleeps whereas I work
• pendant queWhile (at the same time). Two simultaneous actions, with the indicative.Je lis pendant que tu manges = I read while you eat
• dès queAs soon as. With the indicative — and French uses the future for a future event.Dès que j'arriverai, je t'appellerai = As soon as I arrive, I'll call you
• depuis queSince (a point when something started). Introduces a clause, not just a noun.Depuis qu'il est parti, je suis triste = Since he left, I've been sad
• ce qui / ce queWhat (the thing that). ce qui = subject, ce que = object of its clause.Je sais ce que tu veux = I know what you want
• si + imparfait, + conditionnelHypothetical: if-clause in the imparfait, result clause in the conditional.Si j'étais riche, je voyagerais = If I were rich, I would travel
• malgré + nounDespite / in spite of. Takes a noun (use 'bien que' before a clause).Malgré la pluie, je sors = Despite the rain, I'm going out
• être en train de + infTo be in the middle of doing. Stresses an action in progress right now.Je suis en train de travailler = I'm (in the middle of) working