# Linking Words

https://langs123.com/en/french/phrase/connecteurs/
CEFR A1–A2 · 2026-10-24 · CC BY 4.0, langs123 contributors (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

> 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

| Point | Rule | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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

- 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

| Linker | Meaning | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **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

| Linker | Meaning | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **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

| Linker | Meaning | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **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

| Linker | Use | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **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

| ou | où |
| --- | --- |
| 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

| ✗ | ✓ |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |