Time clauses are the second-largest family of subordinate clauses in French (after the que-complement clauses). They answer questions like when?, while?, since when?, until when?, how often? and are introduced by a conjunction that fixes the temporal relation between the dependent and main clauses.
The trick to French temporal conjunctions is mood selection. Most of them take the indicative — natural, since events you are describing in time tend to be facts. But a small set requires the subjunctive: avant que (before), jusqu'à ce que (until), and en attendant que (while waiting for). The split is not arbitrary. It tracks whether the event in the dependent clause has been completed (or will reliably happen) from the perspective of the main clause: completed or expected → indicative; not yet realized → subjunctive.
This page covers twelve temporal conjunctions, sorted from most frequent to most specialized, with mood, register, and a special section on the après que debate that even native speakers argue about.
quand — the workhorse (when)
Quand is the default when. It works in any temporal context — past, present, future, habitual — and takes the indicative in all of them.
Quand je rentre, je prépare le dîner.
When I get home, I make dinner. (habitual)
Quand j'étais petit, on partait en vacances en Bretagne.
When I was little, we used to go on holiday in Brittany. (past)
Appelle-moi quand tu arriveras.
Call me when you get there. (future)
The third example shows a critical difference from English. After quand referring to a future event, French uses the future tense (or future perfect for completed future events). English uses the present (when you get there). This mismatch is one of the classic English-speaker errors:
❌ Appelle-moi quand tu arrives.
Incorrect — French requires the future after quand for future events.
✅ Appelle-moi quand tu arriveras.
Call me when you get there.
The same future-after-temporal rule applies to most temporal conjunctions: quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que, après que, tant que, une fois que all take the future when the time clause refers to the future.
Quand tu auras fini, on partira.
When you've finished, we'll leave.
The first verb is futur antérieur (will have finished), the second is futur simple — chronological order shown by the tense.
lorsque — formal "when"
Lorsque (when) is a more formal alternative to quand. Same meaning, same grammar, but it lives mostly in writing and elevated speech.
Lorsque le soleil se couche, les oiseaux se taisent.
When the sun sets, the birds fall silent. (literary)
L'incident s'est produit lorsque le pilote a perdu le contrôle.
The incident occurred when the pilot lost control. (formal / journalistic)
In conversation, lorsque sounds bookish. Use quand in dialogue. Lorsque is at home in essays, news, and narrative prose.
dès que — as soon as
Dès que (as soon as) marks immediate succession: the moment X happens, Y happens. Indicative.
Dès que tu arrives, on commence.
As soon as you get here, we start.
Je t'appelle dès que j'ai des nouvelles.
I'll call you as soon as I have news.
Dès qu'il a vu le panneau, il a freiné.
The moment he saw the sign, he braked.
For future events, the same future-tense rule as quand applies.
Dès que tu seras prêt, on partira.
As soon as you're ready, we'll leave.
aussitôt que — slightly more emphatic "as soon as"
Aussitôt que is a near-synonym of dès que, slightly more emphatic and slightly more formal. The two are interchangeable in most contexts.
Aussitôt qu'il a entendu le bruit, il s'est levé.
The instant he heard the noise, he got up.
Je t'écrirai aussitôt que possible.
I'll write to you as soon as possible.
In the second example, aussitôt que possible is a fixed expression equivalent to English as soon as possible. Dès que possible exists too and is more common in conversation.
avant que — before (SUBJUNCTIVE)
Avant que is one of the few temporal conjunctions that requires the subjunctive. The logic is clean: the event in the avant que clause has not yet happened at the reference point of the main clause. The action is anticipated, not asserted.
Pars avant qu'il pleuve.
Leave before it rains.
Je voudrais te parler avant que tu partes.
I'd like to talk to you before you leave.
Avant qu'elle ne s'en aille, dis-lui au revoir.
Before she leaves, say goodbye to her. (formal — with ne explétif)
The ne explétif
Avant que often takes a ne explétif — a non-negating ne that appears for stylistic and historical reasons. Avant qu'il (ne) pleuve — same meaning. The ne is optional and slightly formal. In casual speech it is dropped; in writing it is more common.
Réponds-moi avant que je ne change d'avis.
Answer me before I change my mind. (formal)
Same-subject reduction: avant de + infinitive
When the subject of avant que is the same as the subject of the main clause, French strongly prefers avant de + infinitive instead of avant que + subjunctive.
Avant de partir, j'ai vérifié les fenêtres.
Before leaving, I checked the windows.
Je t'appelle avant de sortir.
I'll call you before I go out.
Compare to the different-subject version, which keeps avant que:
Avant que tu partes, je voudrais te dire quelque chose.
Before you leave, I'd like to tell you something.
This same-subject reduction applies to several other subjunctive-triggering conjunctions: pour que / pour, afin que / afin de, à condition que / à condition de, sans que / sans. Whenever the two clauses share a subject, French collapses to the infinitive form.
après que — after (the famous mood debate)
Après que is the trouble spot. Logically, it should take the indicative: the event in the après que clause has been completed by the time the main clause happens. L'Académie française and traditional grammar insist on the indicative.
Après qu'il est parti, j'ai fermé la porte.
After he left, I closed the door. (prescriptively correct: indicative)
On a ouvert la bouteille après que tout le monde est arrivé.
We opened the bottle after everyone had arrived. (indicative)
But in actual usage, many native speakers — perhaps the majority — use the subjunctive after après que, by analogy with avant que. You will see and hear:
Après qu'il soit parti, j'ai fermé la porte.
After he left, I closed the door. (common in usage; criticized by purists)
This is a live debate. Strict grammars (and exam corrections) require the indicative. Spoken French and a lot of journalism use the subjunctive. The safest choice in writing — especially formal writing — is the indicative. The subjunctive will not be marked wrong in informal contexts but may be flagged in academic or edited prose.
Same-subject reduction: après + past infinitive
When subjects match, French uses après + past infinitive (avoir / être + past participle)*.
Après avoir mangé, je suis sortie.
After eating, I went out.
Après être arrivés, ils ont pris une douche.
After arriving, they took a shower.
This reduction is much more common than the full après que + indicative construction. In writing, you will see après avoir / après être far more often than après que.
pendant que — while (parallel actions)
Pendant que (while) describes two actions happening at the same time. It is purely temporal — no contrast or concession implied. Indicative.
Pendant que tu cuisines, je mets la table.
While you cook, I'll set the table.
Il a appelé pendant qu'on dînait.
He called while we were having dinner.
Pendant qu'elle dormait, le chat est sorti.
While she was sleeping, the cat got out.
tandis que — while / whereas
Tandis que shares a temporal meaning with pendant que (while) but more often carries a contrastive meaning (whereas). It is slightly more formal than pendant que and is often the natural choice when the two actions are being opposed.
Mon frère est sportif, tandis que ma sœur préfère lire.
My brother is sporty, whereas my sister prefers reading. (contrast)
Tandis que le pays connaît une crise, le gouvernement reste silencieux.
While the country is going through a crisis, the government remains silent. (contrastive)
For pure temporal while (two simultaneous actions, no contrast), pendant que is more natural. Tandis que is also indicative, like the other simultaneity conjunctions.
alors que — while / although
Alors que slides further along the spectrum: it is about half temporal, half contrastive, and often translates as while or although. Indicative.
Elle a réussi, alors que personne n'y croyait.
She succeeded, even though nobody believed it.
Il sort sans manteau, alors qu'il fait moins cinq dehors.
He's going out without a coat, even though it's minus five outside.
Alors qu'on dînait, le téléphone a sonné.
While we were having dinner, the phone rang.
The first two examples are pure contrast (even though); the third is pure simultaneity (while). The same conjunction handles both, with the meaning falling out of context.
depuis que — since (a point in time)
Depuis que (since) introduces the starting point of an ongoing situation. It takes the indicative.
Depuis qu'elle est rentrée, elle ne dort plus bien.
Since she got back, she hasn't been sleeping well.
Tout va mieux depuis que tu es là.
Everything's better since you've been here.
Depuis qu'il a déménagé, on se voit moins.
Since he moved, we see each other less often.
The crucial English-French mismatch: French uses the present tense in the main clause for an ongoing situation that started in the past, where English uses the present perfect. Depuis qu'il est ici, je travaille mieux — literally since he is here, I work better — really means since he's been here, I've been working better.
jusqu'à ce que — until (SUBJUNCTIVE)
Jusqu'à ce que (until) requires the subjunctive. The logic: the action in the dependent clause has not yet happened from the main clause's standpoint — it is the endpoint being aimed at, not an asserted fact.
J'attendrai jusqu'à ce que tu reviennes.
I'll wait until you come back.
On reste jusqu'à ce qu'il fasse nuit.
We're staying until it gets dark.
Continue à appuyer jusqu'à ce que la lumière s'allume.
Keep pressing until the light comes on.
When the subject is the same in both clauses, French often uses jusqu'à + infinitive only with certain reduced expressions (jusqu'à en mourir, jusqu'à plus soif) — the jusqu'à ce que + subjunctive form is preferred even with the same subject.
Related: en attendant que — while waiting for (SUBJUNCTIVE)
A close cousin: en attendant que (while waiting for, until) also takes the subjunctive.
En attendant qu'il finisse, je vais lire.
While waiting for him to finish, I'll read.
chaque fois que — every time
Chaque fois que (every time, whenever) marks a habitual or repeated correlation. Indicative.
Chaque fois que je le vois, il parle de toi.
Every time I see him, he talks about you.
Chaque fois qu'il pleut, le toit fuit.
Every time it rains, the roof leaks.
The variant toutes les fois que exists but is older and rarer. Chaque fois que is the modern default.
tant que — as long as / until (negated)
A bonus conjunction worth knowing: tant que (as long as) marks a duration of validity. Indicative.
Tant que tu es là, je n'ai pas peur.
As long as you're here, I'm not afraid.
In its negative form tant que… ne… pas, it means until: tant qu'il ne sera pas là, on ne commence pas (we won't start until he's here).
A reference table
| Conjunction | Meaning | Mood | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| quand | when | indicative | neutral |
| lorsque | when | indicative | formal / written |
| dès que | as soon as | indicative | neutral |
| aussitôt que | as soon as (emphatic) | indicative | slightly formal |
| avant que | before | SUBJUNCTIVE | neutral |
| après que | after | indicative (prescriptive); subj. in usage | neutral |
| pendant que | while (simultaneous) | indicative | neutral |
| tandis que | while / whereas | indicative | slightly formal |
| alors que | while / although | indicative | neutral |
| depuis que | since (starting point) | indicative | neutral |
| jusqu'à ce que | until | SUBJUNCTIVE | neutral |
| chaque fois que | every time | indicative | neutral |
The future-tense rule (don't forget)
A reminder that applies across many of these conjunctions: when the time clause refers to a future event, French uses the future tense in the time clause, not the present.
Quand il rentrera, on dînera.
When he gets home, we'll have dinner.
Dès qu'elle aura terminé, elle nous appellera.
As soon as she's done, she'll call us.
Tant que tu seras là, je serai content.
As long as you're there, I'll be happy.
This is a major systemic difference from English, which uses the present after when, as soon as, until. The French rule is consistent: temporal conjunctions track the actual tense of the event, not a special "subordinate present."
The two subjunctive-takers (avant que, jusqu'à ce que) are an exception: their subjunctive form is the same regardless of when the event takes place.
Same-subject reduction: a recurring pattern
A pattern worth highlighting: when the two clauses share a subject, French frequently swaps the conjunction + verb construction for a preposition + infinitive.
- avant que
- subjunctive → avant de
- infinitive (same subject)
- subjunctive → avant de
- après que
- indicative → après
- past infinitive (same subject)
- indicative → après
- jusqu'à ce que (rarely reduces — the full form is kept)
- en attendant que
- subjunctive → en attendant de
- infinitive (same subject)
- subjunctive → en attendant de
Avant de partir, j'ai éteint la lumière.
Before leaving, I turned off the light.
Après avoir fini son café, elle est partie.
After finishing her coffee, she left.
En attendant de pouvoir entrer, on a discuté dans la rue.
While waiting to be able to go in, we chatted on the street.
These reductions are not optional in the way English allows; French strongly prefers them and the full subjunctive construction with a matching subject sounds clumsy. Always check if the subjects match before reaching for avant que.
Common Mistakes
❌ Quand tu arrives, appelle-moi.
Incorrect for a future meaning — French requires the future after quand for future events.
✅ Quand tu arriveras, appelle-moi.
Call me when you get there.
❌ Avant que tu pars, on doit parler.
Incorrect — avant que requires the subjunctive (partes), not the indicative.
✅ Avant que tu partes, on doit parler.
Before you leave, we need to talk.
❌ Avant que je parte, j'ai vérifié les fenêtres.
Awkward — same subject, so use avant de + infinitive.
✅ Avant de partir, j'ai vérifié les fenêtres.
Before leaving, I checked the windows.
❌ J'attendrai jusqu'à ce que tu reviens.
Incorrect — jusqu'à ce que requires the subjunctive (reviennes).
✅ J'attendrai jusqu'à ce que tu reviennes.
I'll wait until you come back.
❌ Depuis qu'il a déménagé, on s'est vu moins.
Awkward — French uses the present tense in the main clause for ongoing situations starting in the past.
✅ Depuis qu'il a déménagé, on se voit moins.
Since he moved, we see each other less.
Key takeaways
Twelve temporal conjunctions, sorted into three groups by mood. The big indicative group (quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que, pendant que, tandis que, alors que, depuis que, chaque fois que, tant que, après que in prescriptive use) handles facts and asserted events. The small subjunctive group (avant que, jusqu'à ce que, en attendant que) handles not-yet events. Après que is genuinely contested — purists demand the indicative, real usage often goes subjunctive — and you should default to the indicative in formal writing. Two further rules tie the system together: the future tense after temporal conjunctions for future events (the biggest English-speaker trap), and the same-subject reduction to avant de / après / en attendant de + infinitive when the two clauses share a subject. Master these two systemic rules and the rest is vocabulary.
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Start learning French→Related Topics
- Les Conjonctions: OverviewA1 — A map of French conjunctions — the small words that link clauses and phrases. Two big classes: coordinators (et, mais, ou, donc, car, or, ni) link equal partners; subordinators (que, parce que, quand, si, bien que, pour que…) introduce a dependent clause. The choice of subordinator also determines whether the verb stays in the indicative or shifts to the subjunctive.
- Conjonctions CausalesA2 — How French expresses cause — the network of conjunctions for because, since, given that. The eight main causal conjunctions are not interchangeable: each carries information about register, what the speaker presupposes the listener already knows, and where the cause sits in the information flow. All take the indicative.
- Les Subordonnées TemporellesB1 — How French expresses time relations in subordinate clauses — simultaneity, anteriority, and posteriority — with the conjunction-by-conjunction tense and mood requirements, including the avant que / après que asymmetry and the futur-after-quand rule that English speakers most need to unlearn.
- Subjunctive after Temporal Conjunctions: avant que, jusqu'à ce que, en attendant queB1 — When a clause refers to an event that has not yet happened from the perspective of the main clause — before, until, while waiting for — French uses the subjunctive. The mirror-image conjunction après que takes the indicative, creating one of French's most surprising asymmetries.
- Les Propositions Temporelles au futur: tense in temporal clausesB1 — When a temporal subordinate clause refers to a future event, French requires the futur — never the present, even though English uses the present in this position. Si-clauses are the major exception: they always take the present, never the futur. Understanding this asymmetry is the key to producing accurate French in any future-oriented context.