Adding a point
Use these to stack arguments. In writing, vary them so that et does not open every sentence.
| Connector | Register | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| et puisand then, and also | everyday | C’estit’scher,expensiveet puisand-alsoc’estit’sloin.farsay SHAIR, ay PWEE say LWAN“It’s expensive, and it’s far too.” | |
| aussialso | neutral | Ilheparlespeaksanglais,Englishetandaussialsoallemand.Germaneel parl ahn-GLEH, ay oh-SEE al-MAHN“He speaks English, and German too.” | |
| de plusmoreover | neutral | De plus,moreoverletheprojetprojectcoûtecostsmoinslesscher.dearduh PLÜS, luh proh-ZHEH koot mwan SHAIR“Moreover, the project costs less.” | |
| en outrefurthermore | formal | En outre,furthermoreilitconvientis-fittingdetonoternoteque…thatahn-NOOTR, eel kon-VYAN duh noh-TAY kuh“Furthermore, it should be noted that…” |
Note: aussi at the start of a sentence means “so, therefore” in formal writing, and is followed by inversion: Aussi faut-il agir.
Contrast: but, however
These introduce an idea that goes against the previous one.
| Connector | Register | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| maisbut | everyday | C’estit’sbon,goodmaisbutc’estit’stroptoosalé.saltysay BON, meh say troh sah-LAY“It’s good, but it’s too salty.” | |
| pourtantand yet | neutral | Ilheahasbeaucoupa-lotétudié,studiedpourtantand-yetilheahaséchoué.failedeel ah boh-KOO ay-tü-DYAY, poor-TAHN eel ah ay-shoo-AY“He studied a lot, and yet he failed.” | |
| cependanthowever | formal | Cependant,howevercettethissolutionsolutionprésentepresentsdessomerisques.riskssuh-pahn-DAHN, set soh-lü-SYON pray-ZAHNT day REESK“However, this solution carries risks.” | |
| alors quewhereas | neutral | Ellesheadoreloveslatheville,cityalors quewhereasluihepréfèrepreferslathecampagne.countrysideel ah-DOR lah VEEL, ah-LOR kuh LWEE pray-FAIR lah kahm-PAHNY“She loves the city, whereas he prefers the country.” |
Note: pourtant stresses surprise (“despite that”); cependant is a neutral, formal “however”.
Cause: because, since
Each gives a reason, but with a different nuance about what the listener already knows.
| Connector | Register | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| parce quebecause | everyday | JeIrestestayparce qu’becauseilitpleut.rainszhuh REST pars keel PLUH“I’m staying because it’s raining.” | |
| carfor, because | neutral | Ilheestispartilefttôt,earlycarforilheétaitwasfatigué.tiredeel ay par-TEE TOH, kar eel ay-TEH fah-tee-GAY“He left early, as he was tired.” | |
| puisquesince (as you know) | neutral | Puisquesincetuyouesarelà,hereaide-moi.help-mePWEES-kuh tü ay LAH, ed-MWAH“Since you’re here, help me.” | |
| commeas (at the start) | neutral | Commeasilitfaisaitmadebeau,fineonweestaresortis.gone-outkom eel fuh-ZEH BOH, on-nay sor-TEE“As the weather was nice, we went out.” |
Note: parce que answers a pourquoi question; puisque presents the reason as obvious; comme must start the sentence.
Consequence: so, therefore
These lead from a cause to its result.
| Connector | Register | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| alorsso | everyday | Ilitpleuvait,was-rainingalorssoonweestarerestés.stayedeel pluh-VEH, ah-LOR on-nay res-TAY“It was raining, so we stayed in.” | |
| doncso, therefore | neutral | JeIpense,thinkdoncthereforejeIsuis.amzhuh PAHNS, donk zhuh SWEE“I think, therefore I am.” | |
| c’est pourquoithat is why | neutral | C’est pourquoithat’s-whynousweproposonsproposecethisplan.plansay poor-KWAH noo proh-poh-ZON suh PLAHN“That is why we are proposing this plan.” | |
| par conséquentconsequently | formal | Par conséquent,consequentlylatheréunionmeetingestisannulée.cancelledpar kon-say-KAHN, lah ray-ü-NYON ay-tah-nü-LAY“Consequently, the meeting is cancelled.” |
Note: donc can also go after the verb for emphasis: Il est donc parti, so he did leave.
Concession: although, even if
Conceding a point before making your own. Watch the mood of the verb that follows.
| Connector | Register | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| même sieven if, even though | neutral | Même sieven-ifc’estit’sdifficile,difficultjeIcontinue.continuemem SEE say dee-fee-SEEL, zhuh kon-tee-NÜ“Even if it’s hard, I’m carrying on.” | |
| bien quealthough (+ subjunctive) | neutral | Bien qu’althoughilitsoitbe (subj.)tard,latejeItravaille.workbyan KEEL swah TAR, zhuh trah-VYE“Although it’s late, I’m working.” | |
| malgrédespite (+ noun) | neutral | Malgrédespitelathepluie,rainonweestaresortis.gone-outmal-GRAY lah PLWEE, on-nay sor-TEE“Despite the rain, we went out.” | |
| quoiquealthough (+ subjunctive) | formal | Quoiqu’althoughilhesoitbe (subj.)riche,richilhevitlivessimplement.simplykwah-KEEL swah REESH, eel vee san-pluh-MAHN“Although he is rich, he lives simply.” |
Note: bien que and quoique take the subjunctive; même si takes the indicative; malgré takes a noun, not a clause.
From speech to formal writing
Most ideas have a connector at each level of formality, or register. In conversation, mais and alors are perfect; in a DELF B2 essay, examiners expect you to move up the scale. More on levels of formality in French register. English works the same way, so it helps to compare with our guide to English transition words.
A model paragraph: working from home
A short B2-style argument. Connectors are in blue; each line is labelled with its role. Every word has its English meaning underneath.