Conjunction

Definition:
Conjunctions are words or phrases that connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. They serve to link and coordinate different elements in a sentence, expressing relationships between them.

Usage:
Conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, or clauses, and they play a crucial role in constructing coherent and meaningful sentences. There are different types of conjunctions, including coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or), subordinating conjunctions (e.g., although, because, if), and correlative conjunctions (e.g., either…or, neither…nor).

Vocabulary:

et (and)
mais (but)
ou (or)
donc (so)
car (because)
si (if)
lorsque (when)
puisque (since)
bien que (although)
tandis que (while)

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In French, there are three main types of conjunctions that play crucial roles in connecting words, phrases, or clauses. Let’s explore each type:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions:
   • These little words join clauses or words together, making sentences longer and more informative.
   • They connect ideas that are equal in importance or value.
   • Here are seven common coordinating conjunctions in French:
   • Car: Meaning “because.”
     • Example: Elle est stressée car elle a beaucoup de travail. (She is stressed because she has a lot of work.) ¹.
   • Mais: Meaning “but.”
     • Example: Il est fatigué, mais dormira bien cette nuit. (He is tired, but he will sleep well tonight.) ¹.
   • Et: Meaning “and.”
     • Example: Il fait froid et il y a beaucoup de vent. (It’s cold, and there is a lot of wind.) ¹.
   • Donc: Meaning “therefore” or “so.”
     • Example: C’est l’été, donc il devrait faire chaud. (It’s summer; therefore it should be hot.) ¹.
   • Ou: Meaning “or.”
     • Example: Je voyagerai en train ou à pied jusqu’à la gare routière. (I will travel by train or on foot to the bus station.) ¹.
   • Ni: Meaning “neither.”
     • Example: Vous n’êtes ni heureux ni triste. Juste indifférent. (You are neither happy nor sad. Just indifferent.) ¹.
   • Or: Meaning “yet” or “now.”
     • Example: Elle lui a parlé, or elle ne voulait pas. (She spoke to him, yet she didn’t want to.) ¹.
   • Coordinating conjunctions connect independent ideas that carry the same weight of meaning and function in a sentence. You can use them to join adjectives, nouns, adverbs, or verbs, as well as independent clauses ¹.
2. Correlative Conjunctions:
   • These conjunctions work in pairs to connect related elements.
   • Examples include:
     • Ou… ou: Meaning “either… or.”
     • Ni… ni: Meaning “neither… nor.”
     • Soit… soit: Meaning “either… or.”
3. Subordinating Conjunctions:
   • These conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and indicate a relationship of dependence or subordination.
   • Examples include:
     • Parce que: Meaning “because.”
     • Puisque: Meaning “since.”
     • Quand: Meaning “when.”
     • Si: Meaning “

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Marie et Pierre sont amis. (Marie and Pierre are friends.)
Il pleut, mais nous allons sortir. (It’s raining, but we’re going out.)
Tu veux du café ou du thé? (Do you want coffee or tea?)
J’ai fini mon travail, donc je vais me reposer. (I finished my work, so I’m going to rest.)
Il est parti, car il avait un rendez-vous. (He left because he had an appointment.)
Si tu viens, nous aurons une fête. (If you come, we’ll have a party.)
Lorsque le soleil se couche, le ciel devient rouge. (When the sun sets, the sky turns red.)
Puisque tu es là, aide-moi à préparer le dîner. (Since you’re here, help me prepare dinner.)
Bien que ce soit difficile, nous devons continuer. (Although it’s hard, we must continue.)
Tandis que certains étudient, d’autres préfèrent se détendre. (While some study, others prefer to relax.)
Il étudie beaucoup et réussit bien aux examens. (He studies a lot and does well in exams.)
Elle aime cuisiner, mais elle déteste faire la vaisselle. (She loves cooking, but she hates doing the dishes.)
Soit tu viens avec nous, soit tu restes à la maison. (Either you come with us, or you stay at home.)
Non seulement il est intelligent, mais il est aussi très créatif. (Not only is he intelligent, but he is also very creative.)
Avant de partir, assure-toi d’avoir tout ce dont tu as besoin. (Before leaving, make sure you have everything you need.)
Malgré la pluie, ils ont décidé de faire une promenade. (Despite the rain, they decided to take a walk.)
Après avoir mangé, nous irons faire du shopping. (After eating, we will go shopping.)
Sans musique, la fête serait ennuyeuse. (Without music, the party would be boring.)
Hormis quelques détails, tout s’est bien passé. (Except for a few details, everything went well.)
À moins que tu ne viennes, la soirée ne sera pas la même. (Unless you come, the evening won’t be the same.)
Marie et Pierre vont au parc. (Marie and Pierre are going to the park.)
Il pleut, mais nous resterons dehors. (It’s raining, but we will stay outside.)
Tu veux du thé ou du café? (Do you want tea or coffee?)
Il est fatigué, donc il va se reposer. (He is tired, so he is going to rest.)
Si tu le souhaites, nous pouvons partir maintenant. (If you wish, we can leave now.)
Lorsque le soleil se lève, les oiseaux chantent. (When the sun rises, the birds sing.)
Puisque tu as fini, tu peux partir. (Since you’re done, you can leave.)
Bien que ce soit difficile, elle persiste. (Although it’s hard, she persists.)
Tandis que certains travaillent, d’autres se reposent. (While some work, others rest.)
Il étudie beaucoup, mais il n’aime pas les examens. (He studies a lot, but he doesn’t like exams.)
Marie et Pierre sont allés au cinéma. (Marie and Pierre went to the cinema.)
Il pleut, mais nous avons des parapluies. (It’s raining, but we have umbrellas.)
Tu veux du café ou du thé? (Do you want coffee or tea?)
Il est tard, donc nous devrions rentrer. (It’s late, so we should go home.)
Elle chante bien, car elle s’entraîne chaque jour. (She sings well because she practices every day.)
Si tu veux, nous pouvons aller au parc. (If you want, we can go to the park.)
Lorsque le téléphone a sonné, elle a répondu rapidement. (When the phone rang, she answered quickly.)
Puisque tu es occupé, je reviendrai plus tard. (Since you’re busy, I’ll come back later.)
Bien que fatigué, il a continué à travailler. (Although tired, he continued to work.)
Tandis que certains dansent, d’autres préfèrent discuter. (While some dance, others prefer to chat.)

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