au fur et à mesure que

As (Progressively) with Au Fur Et a Mesure Que

Level 5

Use au fur et à mesure que to say 'as' or 'bit by bit as' when two things are changing or developing at the same time and pace.

How It Works

The phrase au fur et à mesure que is a common way to describe parallel progression.

1. Meaning and Nuance
While pendant que simply means two things happen at the same time, au fur et à mesure que suggests a gradual, step-by-step process. It is often translated as 'as,' 'progressively as,' or 'in proportion as.' A slightly shorter synonym is à mesure que, which is considered slightly more formal or literary compared to the standard everyday au fur et à mesure que.

2. Grammatical Structure

  • It is followed by a clause in the indicative mood (the standard present, past, or future tenses).
  • It never triggers the subjunctive.
  • When referring to future events, French requires the future tense in the au fur et à mesure que clause (unlike English, which uses the present tense after 'as'). The main clause can be in the future tense or another appropriate mood like the imperative (e.g., Prends des notes au fur et à mesure que je parlerai).
  • Like other expressions ending in que, mandatory elision applies before a vowel or mute H (e.g., au fur et à mesure qu'il...).
  • The clause can easily be placed at the very beginning of a sentence (e.g., Au fur et à mesure que le temps passe...).
  • The word 'fur' is an old French term for 'rate' or 'proportion.' This makes the phrase a historical pleonasm (a redundancy), as 'fur' and 'mesure' mean essentially the same thing. This explains why the expression is so unusually long!

3. The 'de + noun' Construction
When you want to link the progression to a noun rather than a full action, use au fur et à mesure de. For example: au fur et à mesure de la journée (as the day goes on) or au fur et à mesure de ses progrès (as he/she progresses).

4. Usage and Register
Despite its length, it is very common in both spoken and written French. In casual speech, you might also hear the shortened adverbial form au fur et à mesure (without the 'que') at the end of a sentence to mean 'as we go along' (e.g., On verra au fur et à mesure - We'll see as we go).

5. Important Nuance: Active vs. Stative Verbs
This expression implies a rate of change or a sequence of steps. Therefore, it works best with active, progressive verbs (like avancer, grandir, or apprendre). It can sound unnatural with stative verbs or verbs of perception that do not inherently imply a progression or change, like regarder (to watch) or écouter (to listen), unless the act of watching itself is tied to a specific progression.

6. Pronunciation Tip
Pronounced [o fyʁ e a məzyʁ]. Remember that the 't' in et is never pronounced; there is no liaison between et and à. However, there is a mandatory consonant-to-vowel enchaînement where the 'r' in 'fur' flows directly into the 'e' of 'et', making it sound like [fy.ʁe].

Examples (4)

  1. L'histoire devenait plus claire au fur et à mesure que le film avançait.

    The story became clearer as the movie went on.

    Word by Word: The story became more clear at the rate and at measure that the film advanced.

    This shows a parallel progression: the more the movie advanced, the clearer the story became.

  2. Je vous transmettrai les nouvelles au fur et à mesure que je les recevrai.

    I will pass on the news to you as I receive it.

    Word by Word: I you will-transmit the news at the rate and at measure that I them will-receive.

    Note the use of the future tense in both clauses to show a future progression, which is required in French when referring to future events.

  3. Il rangeait sa chambre au fur et à mesure que sa sœur faisait la vaisselle.

    He was cleaning his room as his sister was doing the dishes.

    Word by Word: He was-cleaning his room at the rate and at measure that his sister was-doing the dishes.

    Using the imparfait here emphasizes that both continuous actions were happening at a shared pace in the past.

  4. On apprend de nouveaux mots au fur et à mesure qu'on lit.

    We learn new words as we read.

    Word by Word: One learns of new words at the rate and at measure that one reads.

    This demonstrates a general truth where one action (learning) is the direct result of the progression of another (reading).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subjunctive mood after the conjunction.

    Au fur et à mesure qu'il vienne.
    Au fur et à mesure qu'il vient.

    Even though many complex conjunctions in French require the subjunctive, this one always takes the indicative because it describes a real, progressing fact.

  • Confusing it with 'pendant que' for static actions.

    Au fur et à mesure que je possède ce livre, je suis content.
    Pendant que je possède ce livre, je suis content.

    You cannot use 'au fur et à mesure que' with static verbs like 'posséder' (to possess) because there is no progression or change involved.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

au fur et à mesure queLevel 5As (Progressively) with Au Fur Et a Mesure Que

Learn This First

To understand 'au fur et à mesure que', learners need to be comfortable with the contraction 'au' and how the conjunction 'que' introduces a subordinate clause. It is also helpful to understand basic temporal conjunctions like 'pendant que', as this pattern adds a layer of progressive development to the concept of simultaneity.

Words in This Pattern

au fur et à mesure