de sorte que

So That with De Sorte Que

Level 5

De sorte que is a conjunction that connects two clauses. It changes meaning based on the verb mood that follows: Indicative = Result (what happened); Subjunctive = Purpose (what is intended).

How It Works

1. Expressing Result (Indicative)
When followed by the indicative, de sorte que means 'so' or 'with the result that.' It describes a real, achieved consequence of the main action. In this context, it is often preceded by a comma.
Example: Il a neigé, de sorte que les trains sont en retard. (It snowed, so the trains are late.)

2. Expressing Purpose (Subjunctive)
When followed by the subjunctive, it means 'so that' or 'in order that.' It describes an intended goal or a desired outcome.
Example: Range ta chambre de sorte que nous puissions partir. (Clean your room so that we can leave.)

3. Fixed Expression: Faire en sorte que
The common phrase faire en sorte que (to see to it that / to ensure that) always triggers the subjunctive because it expresses a goal or will.
Example: Fais en sorte qu'il soit à l'heure. (See to it that he is on time.)

4. Register and Variants

Variants: You may encounter en sorte que (a more formal version) or de telle sorte que, which adds emphasis to the manner in which something is done.
Register: It is standard to formal. In casual speech, people often use si bien que for results and pour que for purpose.
Elision: The que becomes qu' before a vowel or mute h (elision).
Same Subject: If the subject of both clauses is the same, it is more natural to use de sorte à + infinitive instead of a full clause.

Examples (5)

Il a plu toute la nuit, de sorte que la route est inondée.
It rained all night, so the road is flooded.
Word by Word: It has rained all the night, of sort that the road is flooded.
Here, the indicative 'est' is used because the flooded road is a factual result of the rain.
Expliquez-lui les règles de sorte qu'il puisse participer.
Explain the rules to him so that he can participate.
Word by Word: Explain to him the rules of sort that he can participate.
The subjunctive 'puisse' is used here because the participation is the intended goal, not a guaranteed fact yet.
Le vent a soufflé fort, de sorte que les feuilles sont tombées.
The wind blew hard, so the leaves fell.
Word by Word: The wind has blown hard, of sort that the leaves are fallen.
The indicative 'sont tombées' indicates a completed, factual consequence.
Parlez plus fort de sorte que tout le monde vous entende.
Speak louder so that everyone hears you.
Word by Word: Speak more loud of sort that all the world you hears.
The subjunctive 'entende' expresses the purpose or aim of speaking louder.
Il a travaillé dur de sorte à réussir son examen.
He worked hard so as to pass his exam.
Word by Word: He has worked hard of sort to succeed his exam.
When the subject (he) is the same for both actions, 'de sorte à' + infinitive is preferred over the subjunctive clause.

Common Mistakes

Using the incorrect hybrid 'de sorte à ce que'.
Je fais cela de sorte à ce qu'il comprenne.
Je fais cela de sorte qu'il comprenne.
'De sorte à ce que' is a common error resulting from mixing 'de sorte que' and 'de façon à ce que'. It is considered incorrect in formal French.
Using the subjunctive for a factual result.
Il est tombé de sorte qu'il se soit cassé la jambe.
Il est tombé de sorte qu'il s'est cassé la jambe.
Using the subjunctive here implies he fell on purpose to break his leg. For an accidental result, use the indicative.

How It Connects

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de sorte queLevel 5So That with De Sorte Que

Learn This First

To learn 'de sorte que', you must understand how to conjugate verbs in both the indicative and subjunctive moods. This is because the meaning of the phrase changes depending on the mood used: the indicative indicates a factual consequence that actually happened, while the subjunctive indicates a desired purpose or intention.

Words in This Pattern