Learn Hardcore French: Bien que nous soyons fatigués, nous voulons continuer à apprendre le français. - Even though we are tired, we want to keep learning French.

Bien que translates as “although” or “even though.” In French, concessive expressions like bien que set up a condition that is perceived as unlikely or contrary to expectation, which is why they require the subjunctive mood. That’s why the clause following it—nous soyons fatigués—uses the subjunctive form of être.

Why is the verb être conjugated as soyons instead of sommes in this sentence?

After bien que, the verb must be in the subjunctive mood. For the pronoun nous, the present subjunctive of être is soyons, whereas sommes is the indicative form. The use of soyons correctly expresses the contrastive, less certain condition indicated by bien que.

Why is there an à before apprendre in the phrase continuer à apprendre le français?

In French, certain verbs are followed by specific prepositions when they link to another verb in the infinitive form. Continuer requires à before an infinitive. Therefore, continuer à apprendre is the correct construction to express “to continue learning.”

Why do we say le français instead of just français when referring to the language?

In French, names of languages are typically used with a definite article. Le français isn't just a translation of "French"—it means “the French language.” This article is required by the rules of French, even when the English equivalent does not use one.

How does the sentence structure, with the subordinate clause coming first, affect the meaning or emphasis of the sentence?

Placing the subordinate clause bien que nous soyons fatigués at the start emphasizes the contrast between the cause (being tired) and the decision made in the main clause (wanting to continue learning French). While the overall meaning remains the same if the order is reversed, fronting the subordinate clause highlights the concession, drawing attention to the effort made despite tiredness.