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Quoi qu’il en soit: “in any case” in a French discussion

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read three messages about an uncertain deadline. See how quoi qu’il en soit returns to the next action, then test meaning, spelling and verb forms.

In short

Quoi qu’il en soit means “be that as it may” or “in any case”. It sets the previous issue aside so you can return to your next point: Nous ne savons pas pourquoi. Quoi qu’il en soit, il faut répondre. Write quoi and que separately; que becomes qu’ before il.

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Two colleagues prepare a response together at a quiet French office table.
The team continues preparing quoi qu’il en soit. Illustration: Atelier

A team is preparing a response to a proposal. The deadline may have changed, and the reason is unclear. Read the three messages: what can they do while they wait for confirmation?

Three messages · a decision while waiting

La date reste à confirmer

Léa — 9 h 10

Le message reçu hier parle de vendredi, mais notre calendrier indique jeudi. Je ne sais pas qui a modifié la date. Il s’agit peut-être d’une erreur. Quoi qu’il en soit1, nous devons demander une confirmation avant de répondre au groupe.

Samir — 9 h 25

Je viens de poser la question. La personne responsable est en réunion2 ce matin et répondra cet après-midi. En attendant3, nous pouvons préparer notre réponse. Le fond de la proposition reste le même : nous acceptons le projet, sous réserve de4 quelques précisions sur le calendrier.

Léa — 9 h 40

D’accord. La date limite est toujours incertaine5. Quoi qu’il en soit, nous pourrions terminer notre réponse aujourd’hui. Cela nous laisserait une marge6 pour la relire demain. Je prépare une première version ; nous déciderons de l’envoi après la confirmation.

Read it in English

Léa, 9.10: The message received yesterday mentions Friday, but our calendar says Thursday. I don’t know who changed the date. It may be a mistake. In any case, we need to ask for confirmation before replying to the group.

Samir, 9.25: I’ve just asked. The person responsible is in a meeting this morning and will reply this afternoon. In the meantime, we can prepare our response. The substance of the proposal is the same: we accept the project, subject to some clarification about the timetable.

Léa, 9.40: All right. The deadline is still uncertain. In any case, we could finish our response today. That would leave us some breathing room to reread it tomorrow. I’ll prepare a first version; we’ll decide when to send it after confirmation.

What does quoi qu’il en soit mean?

What changes across the transition?
BeforeAfter
The deadline is uncertain.They could still finish drafting today.
The reason for the date change is unclear.They need to ask for confirmation.

Soit is the subjunctive inside the fixed expression. The verb after it follows the meaning of the new statement: il faut gives a requirement; nous pourrions suggests a possibility. Léa proposes finishing today and still leaves the sending decision until later.

Quoi qu’il en soit, nous continuons.In any case, we are continuing.

Focus: A complete transition refers back to the discussion.

Quoique la date soit incertaine, nous continuons.Although the date is uncertain, we are continuing.

Focus: One-word quoique introduces an although clause with its own content.

Question 1No account needed
At 9.40, what is still uncertain?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The deadline.. Léa explicitly says the deadline is still uncertain; asking for confirmation has already happened.

Question 2No account needed
What does Léa propose doing today?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Finishing a draft response.. Nous pourrions terminer notre réponse aujourd’hui proposes finishing; sending will be decided later.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the standard spelling.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Quoi qu’il en soit. Write quoi que as two words and elide que before il: quoi qu’il en soit.

Question 4No account needed
Does the transition identify who changed the date?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

No, that question remains open.. The transition moves to the next point while the identity of the person remains unresolved.

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