French Connectors: Full List for the DELF
Connectors (mots de liaison, articulateurs logiques) are essential for structuring a text in French. In DELF B1, B2 and DALF C1, written and oral production are graded in part on the range and accuracy of the connectors used. This guide organizes them by function so you can learn them strategically.
Connectors of addition and enumeration
To add information or list arguments: de plus (moreover), en outre (furthermore, more formal), par ailleurs (in addition), également (also), d'une part... d'autre part (on the one hand... on the other hand), premièrement/deuxièmement (firstly/secondly), tout d'abord (first of all), ensuite (then), enfin (finally), pour commencer (to begin with), pour finir (to conclude). In DELF B2, varying between these forms enriches your written production and avoids repeating 'aussi' or 'et' constantly.
Connectors of cause and consequence
To express cause: parce que (because, simple), car (for, more formal in writing), puisque (since, known cause), étant donné que (given that), vu que (seeing that), comme (as/since, used at the start of a sentence). To express consequence: donc (therefore), c'est pourquoi (that's why), ainsi (thus), par conséquent (consequently), de ce fait (as a result), d'où + noun (hence). Example: Il a travaillé dur, c'est pourquoi il a réussi (He worked hard, which is why he succeeded).
Connectors of opposition and concession
To contrast ideas: mais (but, basic), cependant (however), toutefois (nevertheless), néanmoins (nonetheless, formal), en revanche (on the other hand), au contraire (on the contrary), or (now, introduces a nuance). For concession (although): bien que + subjonctif, même si + indicatif, malgré + noun (despite), quoique + subjonctif. Example: Malgré ses efforts, il n'a pas réussi (Despite his efforts, he didn't succeed). Knowing the difference in register between 'mais', 'cependant' and 'néanmoins' is a key B2 point.
Connectors of condition, hypothesis and time
Condition: si (if), à condition que + subjonctif (provided that), à moins que + subjonctif (unless), pourvu que + subjonctif (as long as). Time: quand/lorsque (when), dès que (as soon as), avant que + subjonctif (before), après que + indicatif (after), pendant que (while), depuis que (since), au moment où (at the moment when). Note: après que takes the indicatif (not the subjonctif — a frequent mistake).
Connectors of exemplification, rephrasing and conclusion
Exemplification: par exemple (for example), notamment (in particular), c'est le cas de (this is the case with), tel que (such as), comme (like). Rephrasing: c'est-à-dire (that is to say), autrement dit (in other words), en d'autres termes (in other terms). Conclusion: en conclusion (in conclusion), en somme (in short), finalement (finally), bref (in short, colloquial), pour conclure (to conclude), en définitive (ultimately, formal). In DELF B2, opening and closing an essay with these connectors is essential.
Practice exercises
1Which cause connector is more formal for a written text?
2Choose the correct connector: 'Il a étudié toute la nuit. _____, il a réussi l'examen.'
3Which verb mood follows 'bien que'?
4To conclude an essay in the DELF B2, which is more appropriate?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on 'but' as the only opposition connector, the way English speakers often default to 'but' everywhere: vary between cependant, toutefois, néanmoins, en revanche depending on register.
- Confusing car and parce que in position: car can never start an answer to 'Why?' — parce que must be used there instead, unlike English 'because'/'for', which are more interchangeable.
- Using après que + subjonctif: a frequent mistake. Après que takes the indicatif: après qu'il est arrivé (not *soit arrivé) — even though 'after' feels like it should pattern with 'before' (avant que + subjonctif) in English intuition.
- Not using connectors between paragraphs: in DELF B2, every paragraph must be explicitly linked to the next.
DELF exam tips
- In B2 written production, examiners assess coherence and cohesion. Using at least 3-4 different types of connectors throughout the text is key.
- Memorize at least 3 connectors per function before the exam. Avoid repeating the same connector twice in the same text.
- The OREO structure (Opinion - Reasons with cause/consequence connectors - Example - Opinion restated) works well for DELF B2.
- In oral production, enumeration connectors (premièrement, ensuite, enfin) structure your speech and make it more persuasive.