Coordinating Conjunctions For Intermediate learners
What Are Coordinating Conjunctions in French?
Coordinating conjunctions (conjonctions de coordination) are words that link elements of equal grammatical value.
Coordinating conjunctions can connect:
two words
two groups of words
two independent clauses
Look at the examples below:
Paul et Marie arrivent.
Paul and Marie arrive.
Je veux venir, mais je travaille.
I want to come, but I'm working.
Main French Coordinating Conjunctions
In French, there are 7 main coordinating conjunctions. Each has a specific meaning.
Mais (but)
Ou (or)
Et (and)
Donc (therefore / so)
Or (however / now)
Ni (neither...nor)
Car (for / because)
Mais (but)
It expresses opposition or contrast. It is very common in both spoken and written French.
Je veux sortir, mais il pleut.
I want to go out, but it's raining.
Il est gentil, mais un peu timide.
He is nice, but a little shy.
Ou (or)
It expresses choice or alternative.
Tu veux du thé ou du café ?
Do you want tea or coffee?
On part aujourd'hui ou demain ?
Are we leaving today or tomorrow?
Et (and)
It expresses addition. It is the most neutral conjunction.
Elle chante et danse.
She sings and dances.
J'ai acheté du pain et du fromage.
I bought some bread and cheese.
Donc (therefore / so)
It expresses logical consequence. It is often used in spoken French to mark reasoning.
Il pleut, donc je reste.
It's raining, so I'm staying.
Tu es prêt, donc on part.
You're ready, so let's go.
Or (however / now)
It expresses a logical contrast or narrative shift. It is mostly common in formal writing, storytelling, and argumentation.
Il promettait de venir. Or, il n'est jamais arrivé.
He promised to come. But he never arrived.
Tout semblait parfait. Or, un problème est survenu.
Everything seemed perfect. However, a problem arose.
Ni (neither...nor)
It is used in negative structures to link two negatives.
The structure is: ne + verb + ni + noun + ni + noun
Il ne mange ni viande ni poisson.
He eats neither meat nor fish.
It requires "ne" in formal French.
Ni lui ni moi ne savons.
Neither he nor I know.
Warning!
Ni is always used with ne.
✖ Je veux ni café ni thé. / Je ne veux ni café ni thé. ✔
Car (for / because)
It expresses explanation or justification. It is mostly used in written or formal French. In speech, parce que is more common.
Je pars, car je suis fatigué.
I'm leaving because I'm tired.
Elle ne vient pas, car elle travaille.
She's not coming because she's working.
Coordination vs Subordination
Coordination connects two clauses of equal importance, so *both partscan stand alone as complete sentences. Subordination connects a main clause with a dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction; the subordinate clause cannot stand** alone and depends on the main clause for meaning.
Coordination: Both clauses are independent.
Il pleut, mais je sors.
It's raining, but I'm going out.
two complete sentences
Subordination: One clause depends on another.
Je reste parce qu'il pleut.
"parce que" introduces a subordinate clause.
What Coordinating Conjunctions Connect
They can link:
Words
Pain et fromage
Bread and cheese
Phrases
Aller au cinéma ou rester à la maison
Go to the cinema or stay home
Clauses
Il vient et il parle.
He comes and he speaks.
Elle part, mais elle revient.
She leaves, but she comes back.
Punctuation
A comma is often used before the coordinating conjunction when linking two full clauses, especially with contrast (mais), consequence (donc), or longer sentences. Short sentences may omit the comma.
Comma used (common):
Il veut venir, mais il travaille.
He wants to come, but he's working.
Il pleut, donc je reste à la maison.
It's raining, so I'm staying home.
Comma sometimes omitted (short sentences):
Il vient et il parle.
He comes and he speaks.
Elle mange ou elle part.
She eats or she leaves.
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