📖LearnModule 7 · Lesson 5 of 30Independent User · CEFR B1, completedUnit 1 · Il faut que — the subjunctive opens
Before, so that, until
Module 7 of the free French course (CEFR B1, completed), lesson 5 of 30: A short list of conjunctions demands the subjunctive every single time. On this page: 8 words with their genders and respellings, the rule, a watch-out line, the conjugation table and the audio — the study notes behind the workbook's lesson 5.
The words
French
English
Say it
avant que
before (with a verb)
ah-VAH(n) kuh
pour que
so that
POOR kuh
jusqu'à ce que
until
zhews-KAH suh kuh
à condition que
provided that
ah koh(n)-dee-SYOH(n) kuh
la conjonction
the conjunction
lah koh(n)-zhoh(n)k-SYOH(n)
comprendre
to understand
koh(n)-PRAH(n)DR
expliquer
to explain
eks-plee-KAY
la liste
the list
lah LEEST
Respellings follow the course’s say-it key; the stressed syllable is in capitals. Print this lesson’s flashcards (PDF) — the words on the front, the English and respelling on the back.
Hear the words
Each word is read twice — say it back in the gap. Computer-generated voice; credits on the course page.
La règle · The rule
A short list of conjunctions demands the subjunctive every single time, whatever the sentence means: avant que (before), pour que (so that), jusqu'à ce que (until), bien que (although), à condition que (provided that).
Et aussi · And also
Téléphone-moi avant que je parte — call me before I leave. Je t'explique pour que tu comprennes — I am explaining so that you understand. These are worth memorizing as a list, because no logic tells you which conjunctions are on it.
Attention · Watch out
avant que, pour que, jusqu'à ce que and à condition que ALWAYS take the subjunctive, whatever the sentence means. après que does not: it takes the indicative.
prendre, subjonctif — the table
je prenne · tu prennes · il/elle prenne · nous prenions · vous preniez · ils/elles prennent
Do it now — on paper
Say all 8 words aloud twice from the respelling, then once from the French spelling alone — begin with avant que.
Copy every word with its accents on paper; then cover the English column and write each meaning back from the French.
Write out prendre, subjonctif in full from memory, every person, and check each form against the table above.
This free course is the reading half. The writing half — write-in lessons, daily practice pages with built-in review, self-checks and a full answer key — is the companion workbook series, The French Ladder: one workbook per module, fifteen in all, released band by band with the Basic band (Modules 1–5) first.
Keep these words
Turn this lesson’s words into flashcards, then space your reviews — the two habits the research behind our study guides backs hardest.