Linking words join ideas: et adds, ou gives a choice, mais contrasts, parce que gives the cause, donc the result. Parce que gives the cause and becomes parce qu’ before a vowel: Je dors parce que je suis fatigué. Je reste ici parce qu’il pleut.
Summary
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Point | Rule | Example | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Et, ou, mais | et adds, ou gives a choice, mais contrasts | Tu veux du thé ou du café ? | Do you want tea or coffee? | |
| Parce que | the cause, and the answer to pourquoi; parce qu’ before a vowel | Je reste ici parce qu’il pleut. | I'm staying here because it's raining. | |
| Donc, alors | the result: donc (careful), alors (everyday) | Il pleut, donc je reste ici. / Il pleut, alors je reste ici. | It's raining, so I'm staying here. / It's raining, so I'm staying here. | |
| Car | a written or careful cause, after the sentence | Je reste ici, car il pleut. | I'm staying here, for it's raining. | |
| Order | d’abord / puis / ensuite / enfin | D’abord je mange, puis je sors. | First I eat, then I go out. | |
| Quand | quand + present: the moment or the habit | Quand j’ai faim, je mange. | When I'm hungry, I eat. | |
| Si | si + present: a condition | Si tu veux, on sort. | If you want, we'll go out. | |
| Si | si + present, then the future or the imperative | Si tu viens demain, je serai content. | If you come tomorrow, I'll be happy. | |
| Trap | si becomes s’ before il and ils only | S’il pleut, je reste ici. | If it rains, I'm staying here. |
Overview
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
- A linking word joins two words or two sentences. Léa et Paul sont amis. / J’ai faim, mais il n’y a plus de pain.Léa and Paul are friends. / I'm hungry, but there is no more bread.
- For pourquoi and its answer parce que in a question, see Questions.
Adding, choosing, contrasting: et, ou, mais
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Linker | Meaning | Example | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| et | adds | Paul et Léa sont amis. / J’ai un frère et une sœur. | Paul and Léa are friends. / I have a brother and a sister. | |
| ou | gives a choice | Tu veux du thé ou du café ? / On part lundi ou mardi ? | Do you want tea or coffee? / Are we leaving on Monday or Tuesday? | |
| mais | contrasts two ideas | Je suis fatigué, mais content. / J’aime le thé, mais je préfère le café. | I'm tired, but happy. / I like tea, but I prefer coffee. |
- After et, ou and mais, the article and the preposition are repeated. Elle a un chat et un chien. / Je parle à Paul et à Léa.She has a cat and a dog. / I talk to Paul and Léa.
Cause and result: parce que, car, donc, alors
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Linker | Meaning | Example | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| parce que | gives the cause | Je dors parce que je suis fatigué. / Je reste ici parce qu’il pleut. | I'm sleeping because I'm tired. / I'm staying here because it's raining. | |
| donc | gives the result | Il pleut, donc je reste ici. / Tu as faim, donc tu manges. | It's raining, so I'm staying here. / You're hungry, so you eat. | |
| alors | gives the result, in speech | Il pleut, alors je reste ici. / Alors, on part ? | It's raining, so I'm staying here. / So, are we leaving? | |
| car | gives the cause, in writing; it follows the sentence | Je reste ici, car il pleut. / Elle dort, car elle est fatiguée. | I'm staying here, for it's raining. / She is sleeping, for she is tired. |
- Pourquoi calls for the answer parce que, never car. Pourquoi tu pars ? — Parce que je suis fatigué.Why are you leaving? — Because I'm tired.
- Canada: In the informal speech of Québec, fait que (also written faque) works like alors or donc. Il pleut, fait que je reste ici.It's raining, so I'm staying here.
The order of actions: d’abord, puis, ensuite, enfin
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Linker | Meaning | Example | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| d’abord | the first action | D’abord, je prends un café. | First, I have a coffee. | |
| puis | the next action, in the same sentence | Je prends un café, puis je sors. | I have a coffee, then I go out. | |
| ensuite | the action after, often at the start of a sentence | Ensuite, je vais au travail. | Then I go to work. | |
| enfin | the last action | Enfin, je rentre à la maison. | Finally, I go home. |
Time and condition: quand, si
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Linker | Use | Example | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quand + present | the moment or the habit | Quand j’ai faim, je mange. / Je dors quand je suis fatigué. | When I'm hungry, I eat. / I sleep when I'm tired. | |
| si + present, present | a condition and its result, in the present | Si tu veux, on sort. / Si j’ai faim, je mange. | If you want, we'll go out. / If I'm hungry, I eat. | |
| si + present, future | a condition in the present, a result in the future | Si tu viens demain, je serai content. | If you come tomorrow, I'll be happy. | |
| si + present, imperative | a condition in the present, then an order in the imperative | Si tu as faim, mange ! | If you're hungry, eat! |
- Si becomes s’ before il and ils, not before elle or on. S’il pleut, je reste. / Si elle vient, je reste.If it rains, I stay. / If she comes, I stay.
- After si, the verb stays in the present, even for the future: the future tense is for the result. See Simple Future: je parlerai. Si tu pars demain, je resterai seul.If you leave tomorrow, I'll stay alone.
- When the clause with quand or si opens the sentence, a comma separates it from the rest. Quand il pleut, je reste ici. / Je reste ici quand il pleut.When it rains, I stay here. / I stay here when it rains.
- For the elision of si and parce que, see Liaison and Elision.
Spelling: ou and où
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| ou | où | Level |
|---|---|---|
| an alternative: ou bien fits in its place | a place: a question or a relative | |
| Thé ou café ?Tea or coffee? | Où est le café ?Where is the café? |
Typical errors
Nothing in this section is at or below. It starts at A1.
| Wrong | Right | Rule | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parce que il pleut. | Parce qu’il pleut. | que becomes qu’ before a vowel | |
| Si il pleut, je reste. | S’il pleut, je reste. | si becomes s’ before il | |
| Je parle à Paul et Léa. | Je parle à Paul et à Léa. | the preposition à is repeated after et | |
| Je ne sais pas ou il est. | Je ne sais pas où il est. | où with an accent names a place; ou without an accent gives a choice | |
| Car je suis fatigué. | Parce que je suis fatigué. | car does not answer pourquoi: say parce que | |
| Si tu viendras, je serai content. | Si tu viens, je serai content. | after si, the verb stays in the present |