Understanding French Complex Sentences
French complex sentences combine multiple clauses using conjunctions, relative pronouns, and subordinating elements to express sophisticated ideas and relationships.
Key components:
- Main clause: Independent clause with complete meaning
- Subordinate clause: Dependent clause needing main clause
- Conjunctions: Words connecting clauses (que, parce que, bien que)
- Relative clauses: Clauses modifying nouns (qui, que, dont, où)
- Temporal clauses: Time relationships (quand, dès que, avant que)
Types of complex sentences:
- Noun clauses: Je sais que tu viens
- Adverbial clauses: Parce qu'il pleut...
- Relative clauses: L'homme qui parle...
- Conditional clauses: Si tu veux...
Complex sentences are essential for advanced French expression, academic writing, and sophisticated communication.
Examples
Je pense que tu as raison parce que tes arguments sont convaincants. (I think you are right because your arguments are convincing.)
Multiple subordinate clauses in one sentence
L'homme qui parle est celui dont je t'ai parlé. (The man who is speaking is the one I told you about.)
Relative clauses modifying nouns
Noun Clauses with QUE
Noun clauses function as direct objects and are introduced by QUE:
Examples
Je pense que tu as raison. (I think that you are right.)
Il dit qu'il viendra. (He says that he will come.)
Nous savons que c'est difficile. (We know that it's difficult.)
Elle croit qu'il ment. (She believes that he is lying.)
Verbs Introducing QUE Clauses
Common verbs followed by QUE:
penser que (to think that), dire que (to say that)
savoir que (to know that), croire que (to believe that)
QUE vs QU'
Elision before vowels:
Je pense que Paul... → Je pense qu'il...
QUE becomes QU' before vowels
Causal Clauses (Because, Since)
Causal clauses express reason or cause:
Causal Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| parce que | because | Parce qu'il pleut, nous restons. (Because it's raining, we stay.) |
| puisque | since (known reason) | Puisque tu le sais... (Since you know it...) |
| comme | as, since | Comme il est tard... (As it's late...) |
| car | for, because | Il part, car il est fatigué. (He's leaving, for he's tired.) |
| étant donné que | given that | Étant donné qu'il pleut... (Given that it's raining...) |
Examples
Nous partons parce que nous sommes en retard. (We're leaving because we're late.)
Puisque tu insistes, j'accepte. (Since you insist, I accept.)
PARCE QUE vs PUISQUE
Different nuances of causality:
PARCE QUE = new information (because)
PUISQUE = known information (since)
Concessive Clauses (Although, Despite)
Concessive clauses express contrast or opposition:
Concessive Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| bien que + subj. | although | Bien qu'il soit tard... (Although it's late...) |
| quoique + subj. | although | Quoique ce soit difficile... (Although it's difficult...) |
| malgré que + subj. | despite | Malgré qu'il pleuve... (Despite it raining...) |
| alors que + ind. | while, whereas | Alors qu'il dort... (While he sleeps...) |
| tandis que + ind. | while, whereas | Tandis que nous travaillons... (While we work...) |
Examples
Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il continue. (Although he's tired, he continues.)
Alors qu'il fait froid, elle porte une robe. (While it's cold, she's wearing a dress.)
Subjunctive Required
BIEN QUE, QUOIQUE require subjunctive:
Bien qu'il soit riche... (Although he is rich...)
Must use subjunctive "soit" not indicative "est"
Temporal Clauses (When, Before, After)
Temporal clauses express time relationships:
Temporal Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| quand + ind. | when | Quand il arrive... (When he arrives...) |
| lorsque + ind. | when | Lorsque nous partons... (When we leave...) |
| dès que + ind. | as soon as | Dès qu'il vient... (As soon as he comes...) |
| avant que + subj. | before | Avant qu'il parte... (Before he leaves...) |
| après que + ind. | after | Après qu'il est parti... (After he left...) |
| pendant que + ind. | while | Pendant qu'il dort... (While he sleeps...) |
Examples
Quand tu viendras, nous parlerons. (When you come, we'll talk.)
Avant qu'il ne parte, dis-lui au revoir. (Before he leaves, say goodbye to him.)
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses modify nouns using relative pronouns:
Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| qui | who, which (subject) | L'homme qui parle... (The man who speaks...) |
| que | whom, which (object) | Le livre que je lis... (The book I read...) |
| dont | whose, of which | L'homme dont je parle... (The man I'm talking about...) |
| où | where, when | La ville où j'habite... (The city where I live...) |
| lequel/laquelle | which (after prep.) | La table sur laquelle... (The table on which...) |
Examples
La femme qui travaille ici est ma sœur. (The woman who works here is my sister.)
Le film que nous avons vu était excellent. (The movie we saw was excellent.)
QUI vs QUE
Subject vs object relative pronouns:
QUI = subject (L'homme qui parle)
QUE = object (L'homme que je vois)
Conditional Clauses (If)
Conditional clauses express hypothetical situations:
Conditional Patterns
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Si + present | If + present | Si tu veux, nous partons. (If you want, we leave.) |
| Si + imperfect | If + imperfect | Si j'étais riche... (If I were rich...) |
| Si + pluperfect | If + pluperfect | Si j'avais su... (If I had known...) |
Examples
Si il pleut, nous resterons à la maison. (If it rains, we'll stay home.)
Si j'étais toi, je partirais. (If I were you, I would leave.)
Purpose Clauses (So That, In Order To)
Purpose clauses express intention or goal:
Purpose Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| pour que + subj. | so that | Pour qu'il comprenne... (So that he understands...) |
| afin que + subj. | in order that | Afin que nous réussissions... (In order that we succeed...) |
| de peur que + subj. | for fear that | De peur qu'il tombe... (For fear that he falls...) |
| de sorte que + subj. | so that | De sorte que tout soit prêt... (So that everything is ready...) |
Examples
Je parle lentement pour que tu comprennes. (I speak slowly so that you understand.)
Il étudie afin qu'il réussisse. (He studies in order that he succeeds.)
Result Clauses (So That, Such That)
Result clauses express consequence or result:
Examples
Il parle si vite que je ne comprends pas. (He speaks so fast that I don't understand.)
Elle est si belle qu'elle attire tous les regards. (She's so beautiful that she attracts all eyes.)
SI...QUE Construction
Intensity + result:
Il fait si froid que l'eau gèle. (It's so cold that water freezes.)
Expresses degree and consequence
Comparison Clauses
Comparison clauses express similarity, difference, or degree:
Comparison Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| comme | as, like | Comme tu le sais... (As you know...) |
| ainsi que | as well as | Pierre ainsi que Marie... (Pierre as well as Marie...) |
| de même que | just as | De même que hier... (Just as yesterday...) |
| plus...que | more...than | Plus grand que moi... (Taller than me...) |
| moins...que | less...than | Moins cher que ça... (Less expensive than that...) |
Sentence Coordination
Coordinating multiple clauses of equal importance:
Coordinating Conjunctions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| et | and | Il vient et elle part. (He comes and she leaves.) |
| mais | but | Il veut mais il ne peut pas. (He wants but he can't.) |
| ou | or | Tu viens ou tu restes? (Are you coming or staying?) |
| donc | therefore | Il pleut, donc nous restons. (It's raining, therefore we stay.) |
| car | for, because | Il part, car il est tard. (He's leaving, for it's late.) |
Complex Sentence Patterns
Advanced patterns combining multiple clause types:
Examples
Je pense que l'homme qui parle est celui dont tu m'as parlé parce qu'il ressemble à ta description. (I think the man who is speaking is the one you told me about because he matches your description.)
Multiple subordinate clauses in complex relationship
Embedded Clauses
Clauses within clauses:
Il dit qu'il pense que tu as raison. (He says that he thinks that you are right.)
Noun clause containing another noun clause
Common Complex Sentence Mistakes
Here are frequent errors with complex sentences:
1. Mood errors: Wrong subjunctive/indicative choice
2. Tense sequence: Incorrect tense coordination
3. Pronoun confusion: Wrong relative pronouns
4. Conjunction misuse: Inappropriate conjunctions
Examples
❌ Bien qu'il est fatigué → ✅ Bien qu'il soit fatigué
Wrong: need subjunctive after BIEN QUE
❌ L'homme que parle → ✅ L'homme qui parle
Wrong: QUI for subject, QUE for object
❌ Pour qu'il comprend → ✅ Pour qu'il comprenne
Wrong: need subjunctive after POUR QUE
❌ Après qu'il soit parti → ✅ Après qu'il est parti
Wrong: APRÈS QUE takes indicative, not subjunctive