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French Grammar

Subjunctive after Conjunctions of Condition (à condition que, pourvu que)

Q: What level is Subjunctive after Conjunctions of Condition (à condition que, pourvu que)?

This lesson is designed for B2 learners and can still help a learner revising the topic at another level.

Isolating structural clauses that limit future possibilities, requiring strict adherence to subjunctive constraints.

Level B2 Category Grammar

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Lesson Summary

Isolating structural clauses that limit future possibilities, requiring strict adherence to subjunctive constraints.

Grammar

Conditions That Require the Subjunctive

The standard si clauses (Type 1 and Type 2) use the indicative and are treated in hypothetical structures type 1 and type 2. A separate set of conjunctions introduces a condition and systematically requires the subjonctif. The most frequent are à condition que, pourvu que, à moins que, en supposant que, and pour peu que.

Conditional Conjunctions + Subjunctive

Conjunction	Meaning	Example
à condition que	provided that / on condition that	Nous signerons le traité à condition que les deux parties soient d’accord.
pourvu que	as long as / provided that	Tu peux venir pourvu que tu sois à l’heure.
à moins que (ne)	unless	Le projet avancera à moins que le financement ne soit refusé.
en supposant que	supposing that	En supposant que la loi soit votée, quand sera‑t‑elle appliquée ?
pour peu que	if only / provided that (slight condition)	Pour peu que le gouvernement accepte, la réforme aura lieu.

The Expletive ne with À moins que

The conjunction à moins que is frequently followed by the particle ne before the subjunctive, even when no negative meaning is intended. This ne explétif is optional in spoken French but is standard in formal writing. It does not cancel the negation if pas is also present.
- À moins qu’il ne pleuve, la manifestation aura lieu. (Unless it rains, the demonstration will take place.)

Examples

Le parlement votera la loi à condition que les députés trouvent un compromis.
The conjunction à condition que is followed by the present subjunctive trouvent.
La participation citoyenne augmentera pourvu que les institutions soient transparentes.
The conjunction pourvu que triggers the subjunctive soient.

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These are the main phrases this lesson covers:

Subjunctive after Conjunctions of Condition (à condition que, pourvu que)Isolating structural clauses that limit future possibilities, requiring strict adherence to subjunctive constraints.Define narrow operational parameters for legal or project frameworks using accurate conditional syntax.GrammarB2grammarLearn French GrammarFrench GrammarConditions That Require the SubjunctiveThe standard si clauses (Type 1 and Type 2) use the indicative and are treated in hypothetical structures type 1 and type 2. A separate set of conjunctions introduces a condition and systematically requires the subjonctif. The most frequent are à condition que, pourvu que, à moins que, en supposant que, and pour peu que.