pendant que vs alors que

Earl T.C1Kwiziq community member

pendant que vs alors que

Why is alors que wrong rather than pendant que. Is alors que only used for opposition? 

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Earl, 

You will use 'alors que' when there is a contrast between the two activities, here they are just simultaneous.

Mia construira un chateau de sable pendant que je lirai sur le banc

Bonne Continuation ?

 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Earl,

I assume that you are referring to the text   "feed the ducks (while) eating ...." and "then we'll walk up to the playground......"

I would expect "pendant que" to be used in the first text and "alors que" in the second.

Alors que takes the sense of "at that time / then" 

"pendant que" takes the sense of "while" (actual periods of time seen to completion)

There is more here:   https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/conjunctive-phrases/

https://www.francaisfacile.com/exercices/exercice-francais-2/exercice-francais-65758.php

I hope that this may help?

Bonne journée

Jim

pendant que vs alors que

Why is alors que wrong rather than pendant que. Is alors que only used for opposition? 

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