notes on using certain conjunctions with the future

1. Conjonctions et le futur

2. Certain conjunctions require the use of the future tense in French when the future is implied (the event hasn’t happened yet).

4. In English we use the present tense after the conjunction; in French, however, the future is used because the event hasn’t happened yet… it’s in the future! I will eat as soon as I arrive home . = Je mangerai d ès que j’arriverai à la maison.

5. Here are (what I call) the “ purple-card ” conjunctions which may be used this way: quand/ lorsque = when d ès que/ aussitôt que = as soon as tandis que/ pendant que = while tant que = as long as

6. D ès que mon amie arrivera, je danserai avec elle. Il mettra la table pendant que vous ferez la cuisine.

8. T éléphone-moi lorsque tu auras le temps.

9. Note, however, that other tenses may also be used with these con- junctions if the future is not implied. Quand tu étudi es, tu r éussis. = When you study, you succeed . (a general statement)

11. Just remember : If the future is implied after the “ purple-card ” conjunctions, use the future. Otherwise, use whatever tense is needed to correctly translate the sentence.

12. C'est tout!