L'intrus
Odd one out: French connectors
Mais, pourtant, cependant… donc? Find the connector with a different job in eight rows: contrast, cause, consequence, time, explanation and summary.
- B1
- 8 rows
- Find the odd one out
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
Connectors fall into families: contrast (mais, pourtant, cependant, néanmoins), cause (parce que, car, puisque), consequence (donc, ainsi, par conséquent), concession (bien que + subjunctive), time (quand, lorsque, dès que) and explanation (en effet, c'est-à-dire).
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Tap the word that doesn't belong in each row.
Donc introduces a consequence. The others mark contrast.
Bien que is concession (although) and takes the subjunctive. The others give a cause.
Pourtant marks contrast. The others order steps in time.
Si introduces a condition. The others are time words (when, as soon as).
Par contre marks contrast. The others explain or reformulate.
Néanmoins (nevertheless) is contrast. The others are consequences.
Au contraire opposes. The others add an argument.
Au départ means at the start. The others sum up.
How do French connectors group by meaning?
In a DELF B1 essay, connectors earn points for coherence. Vary them: don't start every sentence with mais. A useful skeleton: D'abord… De plus… Cependant… Donc / Bref…
Register matters as well: mais and donc fit everywhere, while néanmoins, par conséquent and en revanche sound written and formal. In conversation, par contre and du coup (so, as a result) are everywhere, but avoid du coup in an exam essay.
Le télétravail est pratique. Cependant, il peut isoler. Bref, tout dépend de la personne.
Remote work is convenient. However, it can be isolating. In short, it depends on the person.
- Bien que il pleut…Bien qu'il pleuve…
Bien que + subjunctive, with elision.
- Par contre (in a formal essay)En revanche
En revanche is the more formal contrast.