There are two kinds of conjunctions—the conjunctions of coordination and the conjunctions of subordination. Conjunctions are invariable words or phrases that join two parts of speech, two clauses, or even two sentences. Conjunctions can help form a relation between words, clauses, or sentences such as opposition, addition, consequence, cause, etc...
In this chapter, we will study the conjunctive phrases. These are phrases formed with conjunctions of subordination and which link two or more clauses. There are so many conjunctive phrases that it would be hard to study them all. That’s why we selected the most common ones to study in this chapter.
In today’s lesson, we will study the following conjunctive phrases: bien que, comme quoi, d’autant plus que, depuis que, dès que.
For example:
Bien qu’elle soit très gentille quand elle me parle, il y a quelque chose que je n’aime pas en elle.
Even though she is very nice when she talks to me, there is something that I don’t like in her.
Je vais essayer cette recette bien que je n’aime trop les navets.
I will try this recipe even though I don’t really like turnips.
Bien qu’elle sache que j’ai un tas de bols à la maison, elle m’a offert un bol pour mon anniversaire !
Even though she knows that I have a zillion bowls at home, she offered me a bowl for my birthday!
For example:
Le gérant de la salle de gym doit signer un document comme quoi tu y vas trois fois par semaine pour faire de la gym.
The manager of the gym must sign a document that proves that you go there three times a week to work out.
On a reçu trois plaintes comme quoi vous recevez très mal nos clients.
We received three complaints saying that you are rude with our clients.
Elle a finalement trouvé son prince charmant à 65 ans. Comme quoi il ne faut jamais désespérer !
She finally found her prince charming at the age of 65 which proves that one should never lose hope.
Il m’a dit comme quoi il ne voulait pas me blesser et que c’était pour cette raison qu’il était parti sans me dire au revoir.
He told me that he didn’t want to hurt me and that’s why he left without saying bye to me.
L’histoire comme quoi il a braqué une banque dans sa jeunesse ne tient pas debout.
The story in which he says that he attacked a bank in his younger years doesn’t make sense.
For example:
Nous sommes bien en mesure d’apporter de l’aide aux pays ravagés par la sécheresse d’autant plus que nos réserves en blé et autres denrées alimentaires sont au plus haut niveau.
We are able to lend a helping hand to countries devastated by drought all the more since our reserves in wheat and other food products are in their highest level.
Je crois qu’il est temps qu’on abandonne ce projet qui n’aboutit à rien d’autant plus que nos sponsors ne veulent plus le financer. I think it’s time that we give up this project that comes to naught especially now that the sponsors are no longer willing to finance it.
Je vais arrêter la gym car ça me prend trop de temps. D’autant plus que je n’ai remarqué aucune amélioration.
I will stop working out.because it’s taking me too much time. Even more so since I didn’t notice any improvement.
Leur divorce était assez spécial car ils l’ont surmonté avec beaucoup de courage et de dignité. D’autant plus qu’ils n’avaient pas d’enfants.
Their divorce was quite special because they ovecame it with a lot of courage and dignity, especially since they didn’t have any children.
For example:
Depuis qu’il ne travaille plus, il est devenu très fainéant.
Since he stopped working, he has become very lazy.
Le trafic de drogue a empiré depuis qu’ils ont rouvert les frontières.
Drug trufficking has worsened since they reopened the frontiers.
Depuis qu’ils ont déménagé, on ne les voit plus comme avant.
Since they moved, we no longer see them as often as we used to.
For example:
Dès qu’elle s’est lavé les mains, elle a commencé à pétrir la pâte.
As soon as she had washed her hands, she started kneading the dough.
Je vous enverrai les documents que vous demandez dès que je les signerai.
I will send you the documents you requested as soon as I sign them.
Dès que le temps s’éclaircira un peu, j’irai me promener un peu.
As soon as the weather clears up, I’ll go for a little walk.
In this chapter, we will study the conjunctive phrases. These are phrases formed with conjunctions of subordination and which link two or more clauses. There are so many conjunctive phrases that it would be hard to study them all. That’s why we selected the most common ones to study in this chapter.
In today’s lesson, we will study the following conjunctive phrases: bien que, comme quoi, d’autant plus que, depuis que, dès que.
bien que
“bien que” means “even though”. It’s always followed with the subjunctive mode. It can be used at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle of the sentence.For example:
Bien qu’elle soit très gentille quand elle me parle, il y a quelque chose que je n’aime pas en elle.
Even though she is very nice when she talks to me, there is something that I don’t like in her.
Je vais essayer cette recette bien que je n’aime trop les navets.
I will try this recipe even though I don’t really like turnips.
Bien qu’elle sache que j’ai un tas de bols à la maison, elle m’a offert un bol pour mon anniversaire !
Even though she knows that I have a zillion bowls at home, she offered me a bowl for my birthday!
comme quoi
“comme quoi” has many translations depending on the context in which it is used. It is very common in speech, mainly colloquial speech, but it is also commonly found in writing. It can mean “it’s the proof that”, “attesting”, “pretending” or “that shows.”For example:
Le gérant de la salle de gym doit signer un document comme quoi tu y vas trois fois par semaine pour faire de la gym.
The manager of the gym must sign a document that proves that you go there three times a week to work out.
On a reçu trois plaintes comme quoi vous recevez très mal nos clients.
We received three complaints saying that you are rude with our clients.
Elle a finalement trouvé son prince charmant à 65 ans. Comme quoi il ne faut jamais désespérer !
She finally found her prince charming at the age of 65 which proves that one should never lose hope.
Il m’a dit comme quoi il ne voulait pas me blesser et que c’était pour cette raison qu’il était parti sans me dire au revoir.
He told me that he didn’t want to hurt me and that’s why he left without saying bye to me.
L’histoire comme quoi il a braqué une banque dans sa jeunesse ne tient pas debout.
The story in which he says that he attacked a bank in his younger years doesn’t make sense.
d’autant plus que
“d’autant plus que” means “all the more since” or “especially since.” It expresses emphasis or insistence. It is used to give a reason that supports the previous idea. It is always placed in the middle of the sentence or at the beginning of a sentence directly related to the previous one.For example:
Nous sommes bien en mesure d’apporter de l’aide aux pays ravagés par la sécheresse d’autant plus que nos réserves en blé et autres denrées alimentaires sont au plus haut niveau.
We are able to lend a helping hand to countries devastated by drought all the more since our reserves in wheat and other food products are in their highest level.
Je crois qu’il est temps qu’on abandonne ce projet qui n’aboutit à rien d’autant plus que nos sponsors ne veulent plus le financer. I think it’s time that we give up this project that comes to naught especially now that the sponsors are no longer willing to finance it.
Je vais arrêter la gym car ça me prend trop de temps. D’autant plus que je n’ai remarqué aucune amélioration.
I will stop working out.because it’s taking me too much time. Even more so since I didn’t notice any improvement.
Leur divorce était assez spécial car ils l’ont surmonté avec beaucoup de courage et de dignité. D’autant plus qu’ils n’avaient pas d’enfants.
Their divorce was quite special because they ovecame it with a lot of courage and dignity, especially since they didn’t have any children.
depuis que
“depuis que” means “ since”. It expresses a period of time between a particular past time and the present. It can be placed at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle of the sentence.For example:
Depuis qu’il ne travaille plus, il est devenu très fainéant.
Since he stopped working, he has become very lazy.
Le trafic de drogue a empiré depuis qu’ils ont rouvert les frontières.
Drug trufficking has worsened since they reopened the frontiers.
Depuis qu’ils ont déménagé, on ne les voit plus comme avant.
Since they moved, we no longer see them as often as we used to.
Dès que
“dès que” means “as soon as”. It expresses an action that happened right before a subsequent action. It can be placed at the beginning or the middle of the sentence.For example:
Dès qu’elle s’est lavé les mains, elle a commencé à pétrir la pâte.
As soon as she had washed her hands, she started kneading the dough.
Je vous enverrai les documents que vous demandez dès que je les signerai.
I will send you the documents you requested as soon as I sign them.
Dès que le temps s’éclaircira un peu, j’irai me promener un peu.
As soon as the weather clears up, I’ll go for a little walk.