si + Adjective + que + Subjunctive

However with Si...que

Level 6

Use si + [adjective/adverb] + que to express that a quality, no matter how intense, does not change the outcome. It is a formal alternative to 'même si' or 'bien que'.

How It Works

The structure si...que is a hallmark of high-level, formal French (Level 6). It functions as a concessive conjunction, similar to the English 'however [adjective]' or 'no matter how [adjective].'

1. Grammatical Structure:
The formula is: Si + [Adjective or Adverb] + que + [Subject] + [Verb in Subjunctive].
Example: Si intelligent qu'il soit... (However intelligent he may be...)

2. Key Constraints:

  • Subjunctive Requirement: Unlike the consecutive 'si...que' (so...that), which takes the indicative, this concessive version must use the subjunctive.
  • Adjectives/Adverbs Only: This pattern only works with adjectives or adverbs. To modify a noun, you must use quelque...que instead.
  • Formal Inversion: In very literary contexts, the 'que' can be dropped if the subject and verb are inverted: Si riche soit-il instead of Si riche qu'il soit.

3. Nuance vs. Other Patterns:

  • Aussi...que: Note that aussi...que + subjunctive is a perfect synonym for si...que in this context (e.g., Aussi compétent qu'il soit...) and is frequently used in modern formal writing.
  • Tout...que: Be careful not to confuse this with tout + adjective + que. While si...que implies a hypothetical or intense degree requiring the subjunctive, tout...que usually takes the indicative because it presents the quality as an established fact (e.g., Tout riche qu'il est... meaning 'Rich as he is...').
  • General Concession: While bien que simply means 'although,' si...que highlights the degree of the quality. It suggests that even at the highest possible level of that quality, the result in the main clause remains true.

Examples (4)

  1. Si compétent qu'il soit, il ne peut pas résoudre ce problème seul.

    However competent he may be, he cannot solve this problem alone.

    Word by Word: So competent that he be, he not can not to solve this problem alone.

    Here, 'si...que' wraps around the adjective 'compétent' and triggers the subjunctive 'soit'.

  2. Si prudemment que vous conduisiez, la route reste dangereuse.

    No matter how carefully you drive, the road remains dangerous.

    Word by Word: So prudently that you drive, the road remains dangerous.

    This shows the pattern used with an adverb ('prudemment'). The verb 'conduisiez' is in the subjunctive.

  3. Si mince soit-elle, cette preuve suffit à l'accuser.

    However slight it may be, this evidence is enough to accuse him.

    Word by Word: So slight be it, this evidence suffices to him to accuse.

    This is the literary variant where 'que' is omitted and the subject/verb are inverted (soit-elle).

  4. Si riches qu'ils paraissent, ils ont de lourdes dettes.

    However rich they may seem, they have heavy debts.

    Word by Word: So rich that they appear, they have of heavy debts.

    Note that the adjective 'riches' still agrees in number with the subject 'ils'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.

    Si riche qu'il est, il n'est pas heureux.
    Si riche qu'il soit, il n'est pas heureux.

    In a concessive 'however' sense, the subjunctive is mandatory. Using the indicative changes the meaning to 'He is so rich that...' (consequence).

  • Using 'si' with a noun.

    Si courage qu'il ait, il a échoué.
    Quelque courage qu'il ait, il a échoué.

    Si is an adverb and can only modify adjectives or adverbs. For nouns, use 'quelque...que' or 'quel que soit le courage'.

How It Connects

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

si + Adjective + que + SubjunctiveLevel 6However with Si...que

Learn This First

To learn 'si...que + subjunctive', you must be comfortable with the subjunctive mood and formal subject-verb inversion. It is also helpful to understand its synonym 'quelque...que', as this pattern serves as a more literary alternative to express concession or degree.

Words in This Pattern