sous réserve que
Provided That with Sous Reserve Que
Sous réserve que is a high-level formal expression used to introduce a condition or restriction. It is primarily found in legal, administrative, and professional writing, meaning 'provided that' or 'subject to the condition that.'
How It Works
1. Usage and Nuance
While everyday French uses si or à condition que, sous réserve que carries a 'legalistic' weight. It implies a formal caveat or a proviso. It is common in contracts, terms of service, and official correspondence.
2. Grammatical Structure
The standard construction is:
[Main Clause] + sous réserve que + [Subordinate Clause in the Subjunctive]
Example: Le projet est accepté sous réserve que le budget soit respecté. (The project is accepted provided that the budget is respected.)
3. The Indicative Exception
In extremely specific legal contexts, you may occasionally see the future indicative if the condition is treated as a firm, guaranteed contractual obligation (e.g., ...sous réserve que vous respecterez les clauses...). However, for all standard professional and academic writing, the subjunctive is the expected and safest choice.
4. Comparison with 'Sous réserve de'
Do not confuse the conjunction with the prepositional phrase:
- Sous réserve que + Clause (Subject + Verb in Subjunctive)
- Sous réserve de + Noun or Infinitive (e.g., sous réserve de votre accord)
Examples (4)
- L'accès au concours est autorisé, sous réserve que le candidat ait validé son diplôme.
Access to the competition is authorized, provided that the candidate has validated their degree.
Word by Word: The access to the competition is authorized, under reserve that the candidate has validated his diploma.
Uses the past subjunctive 'ait validé' to show a condition that must be completed.
- Le contrat sera renouvelé, sous réserve qu'aucune des parties ne s'y oppose.
The contract will be renewed, provided that neither party opposes it.
Word by Word: The contract will be renewed, under reserve that none of the parties itself there opposes.
A classic legal usage where the renewal is contingent on the absence of opposition.
- Vous pouvez emprunter ces documents, sous réserve qu'ils soient rendus avant lundi.
You may borrow these documents, provided they are returned before Monday.
Word by Word: You can borrow these documents, under reserve that they be returned before Monday.
The subjunctive 'soient' is used here to set a formal restriction on the permission granted.
- La subvention sera versée sous réserve que le dossier soit complet.
The grant will be paid provided that the file is complete.
Word by Word: The grant will be paid under reserve that the file be complete.
Common administrative phrasing for conditional financial approvals.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.
Je viendrai sous réserve que tu es là.Je viendrai sous réserve que tu sois là.Even though 'sous réserve que' is formal, it still follows the rule of requiring the subjunctive for conditions.
Using the expression in a casual context.
On va au ciné sous réserve qu'il y ait de la place ?On va au ciné s'il y a de la place ?Using 'sous réserve que' in a casual conversation about a movie sounds comically stiff and unnatural. Use 'si' or 'à condition que' instead.
Confusing 'sous réserve que' with 'sous réserve de'.
Sous réserve que votre accord.Sous réserve de votre accord.'Que' must be followed by a full clause (subject + verb), whereas 'de' is followed by a noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'sous réserve que', you must first be comfortable with the formation of the subjunctive mood, as this conjunction always triggers it. Additionally, understanding how French uses specific conjunctions to express conditions (like 'à condition que') will help you understand the formal and legal nuance of this specific pattern.
- à condition que + SubjunctiveOn the Condition That with a Condition Que
Understanding other conditional conjunctions that trigger the subjunctive provides the necessary conceptual framework for this formal administrative equivalent.
Level 3 - sousUnder with Sous
The expression is built using the preposition 'sous', and familiarity with its basic use is helpful for recognizing the structure.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- pourvu que + SubjunctiveProvided That with Pourvu Que
Also means 'provided that,' but often carries a nuance of hope or desire, unlike the clinical 'sous réserve que'.
Level 3 - si + Present, FutureReal Future Condition
The basic way to express a condition, used in all registers of speech.
Level 2 - Regular subjunctive formation
The mood required after 'sous réserve que' to express the condition.
Level 3 - dans la mesure oùInsofar as with Dans La Mesure Ou
Another formal locution used to express a condition or extent, though it usually takes the indicative.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice sous réserve que in Bubblegum
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