French Subordinating Conjunctions

Conjonctions de subordination


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Subordinating conjunctions connect two unequal clauses: a main clause and a dependent or subordinate clause.

A main clause is a group of words that can stand alone, grammatically speaking, because it has a subject, verb, and possibly an object. In contrast, a dependent clause cannot stand alone: it begins with a subordinating conjunction and therefore needs a main clause to prop it up.

Par exemple…

J’espère que tu vas mieux. – I hope (that) you’re feeling better.

J’espère is the main clause, que is the conjunction, and que tu vas mieux is the dependent clause.

Note that que is required in French, but "that" is optional in English.

Quand tu seras prêt, on commencera. – When you’re ready, we’ll start.

On commencera is the main clause, quand is the conjunction, and quand tu seras prêt is the dependent clause.

Je peux t’accompagner, si tu veux. – I can go with you, if you like.

Je peux t’accompagner is the main clause, si is the conjunction, and si tu veux is the dependent clause.

		Verb notes
comme	as, since
lorsque	when	May require the future
pourquoi	why
puisque	since, as
quand	when	May require the future
que	that	May require the subjunctive
quoique	even though	Requires the subjunctive
si	if	See si clauses