Breakdown of L'artisan distille la lavande depuis hier, si bien que l'arôme est très fort.
être
to be
très
very
fort
strong
hier
yesterday
depuis
since/for
l'artisan
the craftsman (m)
distiller
to distill
la lavande
the lavender
si bien que
so much so that
l'arôme
the aroma (m)
Questions & Answers about L'artisan distille la lavande depuis hier, si bien que l'arôme est très fort.
Why is the verb est in the indicative mood rather than the subjunctive after si bien que?
The phrase si bien que expresses a real, established consequence (meaning 'with the result that'). Because it states a fact rather than a doubt, desire, or possibility, it always takes the indicative mood.
Why is distille in the present tense if the English translation uses the phrase 'has been distilling'?
In French, when an action started in the past and is still happening right now, you use the present tense combined with depuis (since/for). The artisan is still distilling the lavender, so French keeps it in the present tense.
Could I replace si bien que with pour que in this sentence?
No, that would change both the meaning and the grammar! Pour que means 'so that' or 'in order that' (expressing an intentional goal) and requires the subjunctive mood. Si bien que expresses an actual result that happened as a consequence, which is why it works perfectly here with the indicative.
Can si bien que be placed at the very beginning of a sentence?
No, because it is a consequence connector that links a cause to its result. It must always come after the clause that stated the cause, meaning it will always appear in the middle of a sentence.
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