pendant que

While with Pendant Que

Level 3

Pendant que means "while" or "during the time that." It connects two actions that happen at the same time and always uses the indicative mood.

How It Works

1. Basic Usage
Pendant que introduces a subordinate clause (subject + verb). It is the standard way to say "while" in everyday French.

2. Tense Agreement

  • Past: It is frequently used with the imparfait to set a background for another action in the passé composé.
  • Future: If the main action is in the future, the verb following pendant que must also be in the future tense. This is a major difference from English, which uses the present tense after "while" in future contexts.

3. Phonological Rule
The e in que drops before a vowel or a mute h, becoming pendant qu'. This is known as elision.

4. Indicative Mood
Even though it ends in que, it never triggers the subjunctive. It is a factual statement about time, so it stays in the indicative.

Examples (4)

  1. Je lis un livre pendant que tu regardes la télé.

    I am reading a book while you are watching TV.

    Word by Word: I read a book during that you watch the TV.

    A simple present tense example showing two actions happening at the same time.

  2. Le téléphone a sonné pendant que je prenais ma douche.

    The phone rang while I was taking my shower.

    Word by Word: The phone has rung during that I was taking my shower.

    Here, the imparfait (prenais) provides the background duration for the sudden action (a sonné).

  3. Je ferai la cuisine pendant que tu rangeras le salon.

    I will cook while you tidy up the living room.

    Word by Word: I will do the kitchen during that you will tidy the living room.

    Note that both verbs are in the future tense in French, unlike English.

  4. Pendant qu'il dort, nous pouvons travailler.

    While he is sleeping, we can work.

    Word by Word: During that he sleeps, we can work.

    Demonstrates elision (qu'il) before a vowel.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subjunctive after 'pendant que'.

    Pendant qu'il soit là, je vais lui parler.
    Pendant qu'il est là, je vais lui parler.

    Learners often think all 'que' conjunctions need the subjunctive, but 'pendant que' is a temporal fact and requires the indicative.

  • Using the present after 'pendant que' for a future event.

    Je t'appellerai pendant que je suis en vacances.
    Je t'appellerai pendant que je serai en vacances.

    Both forms are used. The future ('je serai') stresses that the vacation has not started yet. The present is also correct and very common in speech.

  • Confusing 'pendant' (preposition) with 'pendant que' (conjunction).

    Pendant que le film, j'ai dormi.
    Pendant le film, j'ai dormi.

    Use 'pendant' before a noun and 'pendant que' before a full clause (subject + verb).

How It Connects

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pendant queLevel 3While with Pendant Que

Learn This First

To use 'pendant que' effectively, you need to be able to construct two full clauses (SVO order) and understand how they relate in time. Since 'pendant que' often introduces a background action while another event occurs, familiarity with the distinction between the imperfect and the passé composé is essential for past-tense contexts.

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Words in This Pattern

pendant que