What are connectors in French?

Linking words (les connecteurs logiques) that show how ideas relate: addition (de plus), contrast (cependant), cause (parce que), consequence (donc) and conclusion (en conclusion).

Which French connectors take the subjunctive?

The most common are bien que, quoique, pour que, afin que, avant que and à condition que. Après que takes the indicative in standard French.

Why do connectors matter for the exam?

Answers that give an opinion are judged partly on coherence: how easy your argument is to follow. Connectors are how you show it. Practise them in a real task on the writing practice page.

French connectors quiz: choose the linking word that fits

Les connecteurs

Read the sentence and choose the missing connector. Watch the grammar as well as the meaning: bien que takes the subjunctive, malgré takes a noun. Every answer explains the rule.

4 min a round
Free, no sign-up
Writing
Reading
Speaking

Level

How to play

1Read the sentence and choose the missing connector.
2Watch the grammar: bien que takes the subjunctive, malgré takes a noun.
3Each answer explains the rule.

What it trains

72 connectors for adding, contrasting, explaining, concluding and giving examples, with the grammar that follows each one.

Why it matters for TCF and TEF Canada

The writing and speaking tasks where you defend a point of view (such as Comparer deux points de vue et donner son avis in TCF Canada and Argumenter pour convaincre in TEF Canada) reward ideas that hang together. Connectors are the visible sign of that structure: d’une part… d’autre part, en revanche, par conséquent.

Practise writing in the real format: TCF Canada writing practice · TEF Canada writing practice

Learn while you play

Rules and tips to remember

Contrast: mais, cependant, pourtant, en revanche
En revanche sets two facts side by side (Montréal est cher ; en revanche, Sherbrooke est abordable); pourtant marks something surprising.
Concession: bien que + subjunctive, malgré + noun
Bien qu’il soit fatigué, but malgré la fatigue. Même si takes the indicative: même s’il est fatigué.
Cause and consequence
Parce que answers why; puisque gives a cause the listener already knows; donc, par conséquent and c’est pourquoi give the result.
Don’t overload
Two or three well-chosen connectors per paragraph read better than one in every sentence.

From the blog

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