“I was tired. I went home.” “I studied. The exam was difficult.”
These sentences make sense individually, but linking them helps explain how the ideas relate.
Words like donc and mais are linking words (connecteurs). They help us add information, introduce contrasts, explain reasons, and show results.
Choose a connector based on what you want to communicate, rather than translating an English word directly. When you speak, you already know whether you’re adding, contrasting, or giving a reason. Start with one reliable connector for each job, then add variety.
1. Adding Information
Use linking words to add another idea or provide additional information.
Aussi, En Plus, and De Plus
All of these can express addition, but they differ in tone and usage.
Aussi is a common way to add information, while en plus and de plus introduce another point. En outre does the same job in more formal writing.
One trap: at the start of a sentence, aussi means “so” or “therefore,” not “also,” and it usually inverts the subject and verb. To begin a sentence with “also,” use en plus or de plus instead.
D’ailleurs vs. Par Ailleurs
These two look almost identical, but they do different jobs.
D’ailleurs adds a related remark that backs up or comments on what you just said, like “besides” or “by the way.” Par ailleurs brings in a separate point, like “in addition” or “on another note,” and is more common in formal writing.
2. Contrasting Ideas
Contrast connectors show that ideas differ or that something happens despite what we’d expect.
Mais, Cependant, and Pourtant
Mais is the everyday word for “but.”
Cependant means “however” and introduces a contrast.
Pourtant often highlights something surprising.
The distinction is useful: cependant introduces a contrast, while pourtant often emphasizes an outcome that goes against expectations.
Néanmoins and toutefois express similar contrasts, usually in more formal language:
Par Contre and En Revanche
Both expressions introduce a contrasting point.
En revanche often introduces a counterbalancing point, while par contre is a common conversational alternative. Their uses overlap, so you don’t need to treat them as completely separate rules. In formal writing, though, en revanche is the safer choice.
Malgré: Despite
Sometimes we acknowledge an obstacle that doesn’t prevent something from happening.
Malgré and the more formal en dépit de are followed by a noun or noun phrase. To introduce a full clause, French can use bien que:
For the grammar behind bien que, see the Subjunctive vs. Indicative guide.
3. Explaining Causes and Results
Causes and results are connected, but they answer different questions. A cause explains why something happens. A result explains what happens because of it.
Parce Que, Puisque, and À Cause De
Use parce que to introduce a reason.
Puisque presents a reason as something already established or understood.
À cause de also expresses a cause, but is followed by a noun rather than a full clause.
This is an important grammatical distinction:
- Parce que and puisque introduce a clause containing a verb.
- À cause de introduces a noun or noun phrase.
Car, En Raison De, and Grâce À
Car also gives a reason, and is often more formal than parce que.
But car always comes after the main idea: it can’t start a sentence, and it can’t answer Pourquoi ? on its own. For those, use parce que.
En raison de (due to) works like à cause de, followed by a noun, but sounds more formal and neutral.
For a positive cause, French often uses grâce à (thanks to):
Donc, Alors, Par Conséquent, and Ainsi
Use these expressions to introduce what follows from an earlier situation.
Donc and alors are common everyday choices. Par conséquent and ainsi are useful for presenting a more formal or logical conclusion.
4. Giving Examples and Clarifying
Sometimes you want to illustrate an idea, explain it differently, or correct an impression.
Par Exemple, C’est-à-dire, and Autrement Dit
Par exemple gives an illustration. C’est-à-dire and autrement dit (in other words) restate an idea in a different way.
En Fait vs. En Effet
These expressions can both translate as “in fact,” but they serve different purposes.
En fait often corrects an earlier impression.
En effet confirms or explains something that has just been said.
Look at whether the second statement corrects an idea or supports it.
5. Opinions and Topics
These expressions help introduce your perspective or direct attention toward a particular subject.
À Mon Avis and De Mon Point de Vue
Both introduce your opinion. De mon point de vue puts a little more emphasis on your perspective.
À Propos De vs. Quant À
Both can introduce a topic, but they serve slightly different purposes.
À propos de brings up something to discuss, while quant à singles out a person or topic, often in contrast with another.
You’ll also use par rapport à, meaning “in relation to” or “compared with.”
Surtout: Especially
To highlight what matters most, use surtout.
6. Summarizing and Concluding
When you’ve explained your ideas, these expressions help bring them together.
Many linking expressions are followed by a comma when they start a sentence: Cependant, le problème persiste. Some connect clauses directly, without a comma right after them: Je suis rentré parce que j’étais fatigué.
French also puts a space before ; : ? and !, so between two complete ideas you’ll see Il pleuvait ; cependant, nous sommes sortis.
Now it’s time to practice. The Linking Words deck will help you choose each connector by the job it does, until linking your ideas starts to feel natural.