The connectors that structure an argument — concession, cause, consequence and opposition (several govern the subjunctive).

• bien queConcession (although / even though) — ALWAYS takes the SUBJUNCTIVE. e.g. bien qu'il soit fatigué.Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il travaille = Although he's tired, he works
• quoiqueConcession (although) — formal twin of bien que; ALWAYS takes the SUBJUNCTIVE.Quoiqu'il fasse froid, elle sort = Although it's cold, she goes out
• à moins queCondition/exception (unless) — takes the SUBJUNCTIVE. e.g. à moins qu'il vienne.Je pars à moins qu'il vienne = I'm leaving unless he comes
• pour quePurpose (so that) with a different subject — takes the SUBJUNCTIVE. e.g. pour que tu comprennes.Je parle lentement pour que tu comprennes = I speak slowly so that you understand
• afin quePurpose (so that / in order that) — formal twin of pour que; takes the SUBJUNCTIVE.Il explique tout afin que nous comprenions = He explains everything so that we understand
• avant queTime (before) — takes the SUBJUNCTIVE (vs après que + indicative). e.g. avant qu'il parte.Appelle-moi avant qu'il parte = Call me before he leaves
• jusqu'à ce queTime (until) — ALWAYS takes the SUBJUNCTIVE. e.g. jusqu'à ce qu'il revienne.Attends ici jusqu'à ce que tu finisses = Wait here until you finish
• sans queManner/concession (without ...-ing) — takes the SUBJUNCTIVE. e.g. sans qu'il le sache.Elle est partie sans qu'il sache pourquoi = She left without him knowing why
• même siConcession (even if / even though) — takes the INDICATIVE, never the subjunctive.Même s'il pleut, je viendrai = Even if it rains, I'll come
• malgréConcession (despite) — a preposition + noun, NOT a clause. e.g. malgré la pluie.Malgré la pluie, nous sommes sortis = Despite the rain, we went out
• pourtantConcession (yet / and yet) — adverb, indicative; flags a surprising contradiction.Il a beaucoup étudié, pourtant il a raté = He studied a lot, yet he failed
• cependantOpposition (however) — formal adverb, indicative; opens a contrasting clause.J'aime ce film ; cependant, il est trop long = I like this film; however, it's too long
• néanmoinsOpposition (nevertheless) — formal adverb, indicative; concedes then contrasts.C'est difficile ; néanmoins, je vais essayer = It's hard; nevertheless, I'll try
• toutefoisOpposition (however / nonetheless) — formal adverb, indicative; softer than cependant.Le projet est prêt ; toutefois, il reste un problème = The project is ready; however, one problem remains
• en revancheOpposition (on the other hand) — adverb, indicative; balances two contrasting facts.Mon frère aime le sport ; en revanche, j'aime lire = My brother likes sport; on the other hand, I like to read
• par contreOpposition (on the other hand) — adverb, indicative; informal twin of en revanche.Le café est bon ; par contre, il est cher = The coffee is good; on the other hand, it's expensive
• puisqueCause (since / seeing that) — INDICATIVE; presents the reason as already known.Puisque tu es là, aide-moi = Since you're here, help me
• étant donné queCause (given that) — formal, INDICATIVE; states an accepted fact as the reason.Étant donné qu'il est tard, nous rentrons = Given that it's late, we're going home
• carCause (for / because) — INDICATIVE; links a clause that justifies the previous one.Je reste à la maison, car je suis malade = I'm staying home, because I'm sick
• commeCause (as / since) — INDICATIVE; the reason comes first, then the result.Comme il pleut, je prends un parapluie = As it's raining, I'm taking an umbrella
• grâce àCause/positive (thanks to) — preposition + noun; a favourable cause.Grâce à toi, j'ai réussi = Thanks to you, I succeeded
• à cause deCause/negative (because of) — preposition + noun; an unfavourable cause.Le train est en retard à cause de la neige = The train is late because of the snow
• doncConsequence (so / therefore) — adverb, indicative; introduces a conclusion.Il pleut, donc je reste ici = It's raining, so I'm staying here
• par conséquentConsequence (consequently) — formal adverb, indicative; a logical result.Il n'a pas étudié ; par conséquent, il a raté = He didn't study; consequently, he failed
• c'est pourquoiConsequence (that's why) — indicative; opens the clause stating the result.J'étais malade, c'est pourquoi je suis resté = I was sick, that's why I stayed
• ainsiConsequence (thus / and so) — adverb, indicative; result or illustration.Il a tout préparé ; ainsi, tout était prêt = He prepared everything; thus, all was ready
• pour / afin de + infinitifPurpose (in order to) — same subject, so + INFINITIVE, NOT the subjunctive. e.g. pour réussir.Je travaille dur pour réussir = I work hard in order to succeed