Mastering Coordinating Conjunctions in French
Coordinating conjunctions are the glue of the French language, allowing you to connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance. Master these to move beyond simple sentences and start speaking with fluid, natural logic. Practice this with PrepMyFrench exercises to perfect your flow!
The Golden Mnemonic
To remember the most common coordinating conjunctions, memorize this phrase: "Mais où est donc Ornicar ?" (But where is Ornicar?). It sounds like a strange question, but it contains mais, ou, et, donc, or, ni, car—the seven pillars of French coordination.
The Seven Masters of Coordination
mais
OppositionUsed to express contrast
ou
ChoiceUsed to present alternatives
et
AdditionUsed to add information
donc
ConsequenceUsed to show a result
or
TransitionUsed to introduce a new fact that changes the perspective
ni
ExclusionUsed for double negatives
car
CauseUsed to explain the reason (similar to 'because')
Pro Tip: Punctuation Power
In French, we typically place a comma before 'mais', 'car', and 'donc' when they connect two full clauses. However, don't use a comma before 'et' or 'ou' unless you are listing many items (e.g., a long list of adjectives). Check the PrepMyFrench writing guide for more punctuation secrets.
Logic Check
Don't confuse 'car' with 'parce que'. While both mean 'because', 'car' is more formal and is strictly a coordinating conjunction, meaning it usually follows a comma and explains the logic of the previous statement.