How French works
A subordinating conjunction can be recognized in French by the fact that it is generally followed by que and is nearly always followed by a finite verb. The presence of que (and sometimes ne) and the choice between the indicative or subjunctive makes using subordinating conjunctions more complex in French than in English. Compare for example the subordinate clauses in the two sentences below:
We must finish it before he gets back
[sub clause = simple conjunction + pronoun + indicative verb]
Il faut le finir avant qu'il ne soit rentré
[sub clause = compound conjunction + pronoun + expletive ne + subjunctive verb]
As a result of this difficulty, French often avoids constructions introduced by a subordinating conjunction in favour of those introduced by a preposition . Prepositions can introduce two types of construction:
Note that the majority of time conjunctions take the indicative . Exceptions are avant que, jusqu'à ce que and en attendant que. Most French people use après que with the subjunctive in informal or spoken French, but this is considered incorrect in formal usage. The conjunctions below take the indicative unless otherwise stated.
Note that where these serve to express present or past time, the tense used is the same as for English:
Quand nous allons dîner chez des amis c'est toujours ma femme qui conduit
When we go out to dinner with friends it's always my wife who drives
Lorsque son mari est mort elle a décidé de retourner dans sa ville natale
When her husband died she decided to return to the town where she was born
However, when they serve to express future time, a future tense is used where English generally prefers a present tense:
Quand il prendra sa retraite il n'y aura personne pour le remplacer
When he retires there'll be no one to take his place
Quand vous aurez fini cet exercice, passez au prochain
When you have finished this exercise, go on to the next one
This is used when referring to precise moments:
Il a vendu ses actions au moment où elles commençaient à remonter
He sold his shares just as they were beginning to gain in price
When referring to a specific event lors can have the sense of when:
Lors de sa parution, le livre a causé un scandale
When it was published, the book caused a scandal
Il viendra après qu'il aura terminé son travail
He'll come after he has finished his work
Après avoir vérifié que toutes les fenêtres étaient fermées, il est rentré chez lui
After checking that all the windows were shut, he went back home
Les fortunes de la ville se sont transformées après la mise en oeuvre du projet
The fortunes of the town were transformed after the implementation of the project
Avant que je ne puisse dire un mot il est parti
Before I could say anything he left
N'oubliez pas de couper l'eau et le gaz avant de partir
Remember to turn off the water and electricity before you leave
N'oubliez pas de couper l'eau et le gaz avant votre départ
Remember to turn off the water and electricity before you leave
Aussitôt / dès qu'il m'a vu, il est venu me parler
As soon as he saw me he came to speak to me
Dès sa parution, le livre a causé un scandale
As soon as it was published, the book caused a scandal
J'ai appris la nouvelle pendant que j'étais à Paris
I heard the news while I was in Paris
J'ai dormi pendant tout l'après-midi
I slept the whole afternoon
Tu dois en profiter tant que tu peux
You must make the most of it while you can
Lors de la réunion il a été décidé de donner le feu vert au projet
At the meeting it was decided to give the project the go-ahead
Il distribuait des programmes (au fur et) à mesure que les gens arrivaient
He was handing out programmes as people arrived
Elle se sentait de plus en plus à l'aise au fur et à mesure de la soirée
She felt more and more at ease as the evening went along
Au fur et à mesure can also be used on its own:
Tu inventes les règles au fur et à mesure!
You're making up the rules as you go along!
Depuis qu'il habite ici il s'est fait beaucoup d'amis
Since he's been living here he's made a lot of friends
Pierre travaille dans la société depuis sa création il y a dix ans
Pierre has worked for the company since it was founded ten years ago
Generally, until is translated by a jusqu'à construction in affirmative sentences, and by an avant construction in negative sentences.
Mon père me lisait une histoire jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme
My father would read me a story until I fell asleep
Nous ne commencerons pas à manger avant que tu sois de retour
We won't start eating until you get back
Il faudra que tu te débrouilles jusqu'à mon retour
You'll just have to manage until I get back
Il ne veut pas sortir avec ses amis avant la fin de ses examens
He doesn't want to go out with his friends until his exams are over
This can often be used as an easier alternative to jusqu'à ce que:
Mon père me lisait une histoire jusqu'au moment où je m'endormais
My father would read me a story until I fell asleep
Il a décidé de prendre un café en attendant que son train arrive
He decided to have a coffee until his train arrived
Sa santé ne s'améliorera pas tant qu'il ne renoncera pas à fumer
His health won't improve until he gives up smoking
Il a décidé d'attendre qu'elle soit de retour avant de lui annoncer la nouvelle
He decided to wait until she got back before telling her the news
Il a décidé d'attendre d'être de retour avant de lui dire les nouvelles
He decided to wait until he got back before telling her the news
Maintenant que ses enfants sont tous à l'école elle peut reprendre le travail
Now that her children are all at school she can go back to work
Chaque fois qu'elle va à Paris elle m'achète un livre
Every time she goes to Paris she buys me a book
Toutes les fois que j'ai le temps je vais à la piscine
Whenever I have the time I go swimming
A peine s'était-il endormi que le téléphone sonna
No sooner had he fallen asleep when the telephone rang
Une fois qu'il aura fini ses études il a l'intention de voyager
Once he's finished college he intends to travel
Veuillez vous-adressez à l’accueil en arrivant
Please go to reception on arriving
Se promenant dans le parc, il est tombé sur un vieil ami
Whilst walking in the park he bumped into an old friend
Le repas fini, ils ont fait la vaisselle
When the meal was over, they did the washing-up