What are Consecutive Clauses?
Consecutive clauses are dependent clauses that express the result or consequence of an action or state. In French, they use conjunctions like que, au point que, tellement que, and si bien que to show how one thing leads to another.
Consecutive clauses are subordinate clauses that introduce the result or consequence of a cause. They use French conjunctions (si bien que, au point que, tellement que) to link cause and consequence.
- •si ... que — so ... that (with adjective/adverb)
- •tellement ... que — so ... that (with verb/quantity)
- •au point que — to the point that, so much that
- •si bien que — so well that, with the result that
- •Il est si grand qu'il ne peut pas entrer.
- •Il pleuvait tellement que les routes étaient fermées.
- •Il a mangé au point qu'il s'est endormi.
- •Il a étudié si bien qu'il a réussi l'examen.
Step-by-step worked examples
Elle est si intelligente qu'elle a réussi tous les examens. (She is so intelligent that she passed all her exams.)
Consecutive structure: si + adjective (intelligente) + que Intensity: emphasizes the high degree Consequence: passed all exams
Il a tellement travaillé qu'il s'est effondré. (He worked so much that he collapsed.)
Consecutive structure: tellement + verb + que Intensity: extreme amount of work Consequence: physical collapse
C'était si bruyant que je n'ai pas pu dormir. (It was so noisy that I couldn't sleep.)
Consecutive structure: si + adjective (bruyant) + que Intensity: unbearable noise level Consequence: inability to sleep
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Elle est _____ intelligente _____ elle a réussi tous les examens. What fills the blanks?
Q2.Il a _____ mangé _____ il s'est endormi. What structure is correct?
Q3.C'était bruyant au point que... What follows logically?
Q4.Si bien que introduces…
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Common mistakes
Using tellement... que with adjectives instead of si... que. — Correct: Si... que is for adjectives; tellement... que is for verbs and quantities.
Forgetting the subjunctive after consecutive clauses. — Correct: Consecutive clauses use indicative, not subjunctive (they state facts, not doubts).
Confusing consecutive clauses with causal clauses. — Correct: Causal = why (parce que), Consecutive = what result (si... que).
Placing the consequence before the cause. — Correct: The cause with intensity always comes first; the consequence follows the conjunction.
FAQ
What is a consecutive clause?
A clause that expresses the result or consequence of a cause, using French conjunctions like si... que, tellement... que, au point que.
Différence entre si... que et tellement... que?
Si... que is for adjectives/adverbs. Tellement... que is for verbs and quantities.
Can a consecutive clause come before the main clause?
No — the cause always precedes the conjunction and consequence. The order is: Cause + si/tellement... que + Consequence.
What mood do consecutive clauses use?
Indicative — they state facts and real consequences, not doubts or hypotheticals.