Subordinating Conjunctions in French

In Brief

French subordinating conjunctions link a main clause to a dependent clause. Bien que, quoique, pour que, and afin que require the subjunctive, while tandis que, alors que, dès que, and aussitôt que normally take the indicative. After dès que and aussitôt que, French often uses a future tense where English uses a present tense.

Overview

A subordinating conjunction introduces a clause that cannot stand alone in the same way as the main clause. In Bien qu’il pleuve, je sors, the main message is je sors (“I’m going out”), while bien qu’il pleuve adds a concession: the rain might have been expected to prevent that action, but it does not.

At B2, the challenge is not simply learning a list of connectors. You also need to choose the mood—the form of the verb that presents an action as a fact, possibility, wish, or viewpoint. The indicative presents information as part of reality or a timeline. The subjunctive presents it through an attitude such as purpose or concession rather than simply asserting it as a fact.

The conjunctions in this article express three main relationships: concession (although), purpose (so that), and contrast or time (while, whereas, as soon as). English does not mark these relationships by changing the verb mood as consistently, so it is best to learn each French conjunction together with the mood it controls.

How It Works

A basic complex sentence has two clauses, often with a different subject in each one:

main clause + conjunction + subject + conjugated verb

Je parle lentement pour que tout le monde comprenne.
“I speak slowly so that everyone understands.”

The conjunction belongs to the dependent clause. That clause may come before or after the main clause. When it comes first, place a comma after it: Bien qu’il soit tard, nous continuons.

Concession: bien que and quoique

Bien que and quoique mean “although” or “even though.” They introduce a fact or circumstance that would normally point toward the opposite result. Both are followed by the subjunctive.

Conjunction	Meaning	Mood	Typical register
bien que	although, even though	subjunctive	neutral; common in speech and writing
quoique	although, though	subjunctive	slightly more formal or literary

Bien qu’elle ait peu de temps, elle nous aide.
“Although she has little time, she helps us.”

The situation may be completely real: she truly has little time. The subjunctive appears because bien que frames that situation as a concession, not because it is uncertain.

Use the tense of the subjunctive to show the time relationship:

• present subjunctive for a simultaneous, current, or future situation: Bien qu’il soit fatigué, il continue.
• past subjunctive for a completed earlier action: Bien qu’il ait dormi, il est encore fatigué.

Purpose: pour que and afin que

Pour que and afin que mean “so that” or “in order that.” A purpose is a desired result, not yet an asserted fact, so these conjunctions require the subjunctive.

Conjunction	Meaning	Mood	Typical register
pour que	so that, in order that	subjunctive	neutral and very common
afin que	so that, in order that	subjunctive	more formal; common in careful writing

Je t’envoie l’adresse pour que tu puisses nous rejoindre.
“I’m sending you the address so that you can join us.”

The construction with que is especially useful when the two clauses have different subjects. If the subject is the same, French normally uses pour + infinitive or afin de + infinitive instead:

Subjects	Preferred structure	Example
different subjects	pour que / afin que + subjunctive	Je répète pour que vous compreniez.
same subject	pour + infinitive / afin de + infinitive	Je répète pour être clair.

The infinitive is the basic unconjugated verb form, such as être, finir, or comprendre. Compare Nous partons tôt pour éviter les bouchons (“We’re leaving early to avoid traffic”) with Nous partons tôt pour que les enfants ne soient pas fatigués (“We’re leaving early so that the children won’t be tired”).

Simultaneous actions and contrast: tandis que and alors que

Tandis que and alors que normally take the indicative. They can both compare two clauses, but their emphasis varies with context.

Conjunction	Main uses	Mood
tandis que	while; whereas, by contrast	indicative
alors que	while; whereas; even though, contrary to expectation	indicative

For simultaneous actions, tandis que is often close to “while”:

Il préparait le dîner tandis que je mettais la table.
“He was making dinner while I was setting the table.”

For contrast, either conjunction may correspond to “whereas”:

Léa préfère travailler le matin, alors que Marc est plus efficace le soir.
“Léa prefers working in the morning, whereas Marc is more productive in the evening.”

Alors que can also express a sharper contradiction between expectation and reality: Il affirme ne rien savoir alors qu’il était présent (“He claims to know nothing even though he was there”). Unlike bien que, it keeps the indicative because the dependent clause is presented directly as a fact.

Immediate sequence: dès que and aussitôt que

Dès que and aussitôt que mean “as soon as.” They establish a time relationship and take the indicative, not the subjunctive.

Conjunction	Meaning	Mood	Nuance
dès que	as soon as, once	indicative	neutral and frequent
aussitôt que	as soon as, immediately when	indicative	stresses immediacy; somewhat more formal

The tense follows the timeline:

• habitual present: Dès qu’il rentre, il enlève ses chaussures.
• completed past: Dès qu’il est rentré, il a appelé sa mère.
• future: Dès qu’il rentrera, il nous appellera.
• action completed before another future action: Dès qu’il aura terminé, il nous rejoindra.

The last form is the future perfect—a tense for an action that will already be complete before another future point. A major English–French contrast appears here: English normally says “As soon as I arrive, I’ll call,” but standard French says Dès que j’arriverai, je t’appellerai, with the future in both clauses.

Choosing the mood quickly

Relationship	Conjunctions	Mood
concession	bien que, quoique	subjunctive
purpose	pour que, afin que	subjunctive
simultaneous action or contrast	tandis que, alors que	indicative
immediate time sequence	dès que, aussitôt que	indicative

Do not choose the mood by translating the English connector alone. Memorize a complete unit: bien que + subjunctive, dès que + indicative, and so on.

Examples in Context

French	English	Note
Bien qu’il pleuve, je sors.	Although it’s raining, I’m going out.	Real concession; present subjunctive
Quoiqu’elle soit très occupée, elle répond toujours rapidement.	Although she is very busy, she always replies quickly.	Quoique + subjunctive
Bien qu’ils aient réservé, ils ont dû attendre.	Although they had booked, they had to wait.	Completed action; past subjunctive
Je parle plus lentement pour que chacun puisse suivre.	I speak more slowly so that everyone can follow.	Purpose with different subjects
Fermez la fenêtre afin que le bruit ne nous dérange pas.	Close the window so that the noise doesn’t disturb us.	Formal purpose; subjunctive
J’ai noté son numéro pour ne pas l’oublier.	I wrote down his number so as not to forget it.	Same subject; infinitive preferred
Tandis que je travaillais, les enfants jouaient dans le jardin.	While I was working, the children were playing in the garden.	Simultaneous past actions
Paul aime improviser, tandis que sa collègue prépare chaque détail.	Paul likes to improvise, whereas his colleague plans every detail.	Contrast
Elle est venue à pied alors qu’il neigeait.	She came on foot even though it was snowing.	Unexpected contrast; indicative
Dès que j’arriverai, je t’appellerai.	As soon as I arrive, I’ll call you.	French future after dès que
Aussitôt qu’il a entendu la nouvelle, il m’a écrit.	As soon as he heard the news, he wrote to me.	Completed past sequence
Dès que vous aurez reçu le contrat, merci de le signer.	As soon as you have received the contract, please sign it.	Future perfect marks prior completion

Common Mistakes

Using the indicative after bien que

• Wrong: Bien qu’il est tard, nous continuons.
• Right: Bien qu’il soit tard, nous continuons.
• Why: Bien que requires the subjunctive, even when the situation is a known fact.

Using the subjunctive after dès que

• Wrong: Dès que tu sois prêt, nous partirons.
• Right: Dès que tu seras prêt, nous partirons.
• Why: Dès que introduces a time point and takes the indicative. Here, that time point is in the future.

Copying the English present tense in a future sentence

• Wrong: Je t’appellerai dès que j’arrive demain.
• Right: Je t’appellerai dès que j’arriverai demain.
• Why: In standard French, a clearly future event after dès que or aussitôt que normally uses the future, unlike English after “as soon as.”

Using pour que when both verbs have the same subject

• Awkward: Je vais à la bibliothèque pour que j’étudie.
• Right: Je vais à la bibliothèque pour étudier.
• Why: When the subject stays the same, French normally uses pour + infinitive. Use pour que + subjunctive when another subject performs the second action.

Treating alors que as a subjunctive trigger

• Wrong: Il se plaint alors qu’il ait tout ce qu’il faut.
• Right: Il se plaint alors qu’il a tout ce qu’il faut.
• Why: Alors que presents its clause as a fact and normally takes the indicative, even when English might translate it as “even though.”

Confusing quoique and quoi que

• Wrong: Quoique tu choisisses, je respecterai ta décision.
• Right: Quoi que tu choisisses, je respecterai ta décision.
• Why: One-word quoique means “although.” Two-word quoi que means “whatever” or “no matter what.” Both can be followed by the subjunctive, but they have different meanings and structures.

Usage Notes

Bien que is the usual all-purpose choice for “although.” Quoique remains current, but often sounds more polished or literary. In casual conversation, speakers also use structures such as même si + indicative (“even if/even though”): Même s’il pleut, je sors. Do not transfer that mood to bien que: it remains Bien qu’il pleuve.

Pour que is natural in both conversation and writing. Afin que is more common in formal instructions, professional communication, and carefully organized prose. The corresponding same-subject forms follow the same register contrast: pour + infinitive is neutral, while afin de + infinitive is more formal.

For two actions happening at once, everyday French often uses pendant que (“while”). Tandis que is especially useful when the sentence also suggests contrast. Alors que can make the mismatch more pointed and may imply “when in fact” or “even though,” depending on context.

Dès que is much more frequent in ordinary speech than aussitôt que. The shorter adverb aussitôt can also connect independent actions: Il a lu le message et il a aussitôt répondu (“He read the message and immediately replied”).

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

The same conjunction can combine with several tenses as long as its required mood stays unchanged. After bien que, the present subjunctive may refer to the present or future, while the past subjunctive marks an earlier completed event: Bien qu’elle parte demain... versus Bien qu’elle soit déjà partie.... Modern French rarely uses literary imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive forms in normal communication; the present and past subjunctive cover the practical system.

With future time conjunctions, the future perfect can clarify that one future action must be finished first:

Nous publierons les résultats dès que le comité aura pris sa décision.
“We will publish the results as soon as the committee has made its decision.”

This is more precise than dès que le comité prendra sa décision, which focuses on the moment the decision is made. Both can be possible, but the future perfect highlights completion before the publication.

Position also shapes emphasis. A dependent clause first sets the frame for what follows: Bien qu’il soit cher, ce modèle se vend bien. Placing it second makes the main statement arrive first: Ce modèle se vend bien, bien qu’il soit cher. The grammatical mood does not change.

Finally, punctuation distinguishes quoique from quoi que, but pronunciation may not help you. Test the meaning: if “although” works, write quoique; if “whatever” or “no matter what” works, write quoi que. Compare Quoique ce soit difficile, continuons (“Although it is difficult, let’s continue”) and Quoi que ce soit, dites-moi la vérité (“Whatever it is, tell me the truth”).

Practice Tips

1. Sort by relationship and mood. Make four groups—concession, purpose, contrast, and time—and say the mood aloud with each conjunction: bien que, subjunctive; dès que, indicative.
2. Transform same-subject sentences. Start with Je ferme la porte pour travailler and change the subject: Je ferme la porte pour que les enfants puissent dormir. This trains the choice between the infinitive and pour que.
3. Build short timelines. Write one habitual, one past, and one future sentence with dès que. Pay special attention to the French future where English would use a present form.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Subjunctive Triggers — review how to form the subjunctive and why certain expressions require it.