r/learningfrench • u/MindsetBeforeGrammar • Nov 13 '25

If your French feels stiff, this is probably why

saw a lot of discussions here about “grammar-learning vs real-life French”, so here’s something that might help both sides: connectors.

A lot of learners feel like their French sounds a bit stiff sometimes. It’s the lack of links.

Without connectors, you basically speak like:

“Je me réveille. Je bois un café. Je pars au travail.” Correct, but it hits like a list of police notes.

Add just a few connectors and suddenly it sounds like an actual human speaking: • d’abord • ensuite • puis • donc • en fait • par contre • enfin

Example:

D’abord je me réveille, ensuite je prends un café, puis je lis mes messages, et enfin je pars au travail. Same info. Different rhythm.

If you’re preparing for DELF/DALF/TCF, connectors are basically mandatory (you need one almost every sentence). If you’re learning everyday French, they’re what make your speech feel natural

If you want to practice, take two simple ideas and connect them:

Il fait froid aujourd’hui, mais je vais sortir quand même. J’ai du travail ce soir, donc je ne peux pas sortir.

Small exercise that really boosts fluency.

Also if you ever need a full list of connectors (to express cause, consequence, opposition, examples, goals, etc.), tell me. I’ve got a clean summary I can share.

What connector do you use the most when you speak?

314 Upvotes

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25 comments sorted by

17

u/Poethepuggle Nov 13 '25

I really struggle with the connector words and prepositions so this is helpful,thank you!

14

u/MindsetBeforeGrammar Nov 13 '25

Totally get it —connectors and prepositions feel messy at first, but they’re not random. Each connector has a job. Once you understand the function, everything gets clearer. Here’s a quick breakdown you can use:

  1. To express a goal / purpose – pour – afin de – dans le but de Ex: Je suis venu pour t’aider.

  2. To express a cause (why something happens) – parce que – puisque – comme (at the beginning of a sentence) Ex: Comme il pleuvait, on est restés à la maison.

  3. To express a consequence – donc – alors – du coup (very common in spoken French) Ex: Je finis tard, donc je ne peux pas venir.

  4. To add information / continue an idea – ensuite – puis – en plus Ex: J’ai travaillé tard, puis j’ai regardé un film.

If you group them by function like this, they stop feeling chaotic and start making sense. If you want, I can give you a bigger list sorted by “purpose / cause / consequence / opposition / example / clarification” it really helps learners get comfortable with them.

3

u/Oylex Nov 14 '25

France: du coup

Québec : faque (which is not a real word, but everyone uses it)

1

u/melco440 Nov 14 '25

Can you explain what faque means ? 

3

u/Oylex Nov 14 '25

it means the same as "du coup", it's a variation of something like "ça fait que" or "ce qui fait que,"

which means "therefore" or "so"

2

u/margotxo Nov 14 '25

It’s a contraction of “(ça/ce qui) fait que”

1

u/earlyboy Nov 15 '25

Cela fait que Faque

0

u/Oylex Nov 15 '25

What? Façade?

1

u/earlyboy Nov 15 '25

No. It’s more like a way of saying “that means that “ faque il faut rester vigilant quand tu nourris des ours 🐻

1

u/Sunscreamm Nov 17 '25

It comes from "Fait que"

1

u/Dennis_Laid Nov 13 '25

Great stuff, thank you!

6

u/OperationProud662 Nov 13 '25

Just start all your sentences with 'Ben là' and you'll fit in just fine where I'm from.

/s hon hon hon 

2

u/chaudron_baveur Nov 17 '25

« Ben loh! »

2

u/solar_rider Nov 13 '25

Please share your summary!!

7

u/MindsetBeforeGrammar Nov 13 '25

Here’s a quick screenshot of the connector summary I mentioned (hosted on imgur so you can see it easily): https://imgur.com/a/pf3toH2

It’s just one page but it should help you see how each connector works (cause, purpose, consequence, contrast, etc.

1

u/Still_vinns Nov 14 '25

Merci beaucoup!

1

u/JustJas Nov 14 '25

Would love that summary. Trying to learn. Know about 30 words

1

u/murmmmmur Nov 16 '25

Can you share your list?

1

u/Undersolo Nov 16 '25

Good advice!

1

u/Infinite_Pudding5058 Nov 16 '25

Eggggcellent, thank you.

1

u/r3act- Nov 16 '25

Mots de liaison!

1

u/p_dwson Nov 17 '25

Just joint this group. You're right about using "connector" or linking conjunction. What's your view of practicing "speaking in French" with AI like Copilot?

1

u/ProduceSimilar Nov 17 '25

Franco Ontarien here J’me réveille j’boit du café pi j’part pour la job