Connectives and Complex Structures for Higher Grades
Using a range of connectives and complex structures is what separates a Grade 5 response from a Grade 7+ response. Examiners look for variety, accuracy, and ambition.
Essential Connectives
Adding and Sequencing
| French | English |
|---|
| et | and |
| aussi | also |
| de plus | furthermore |
| en plus | moreover |
| d'abord | firstly |
| ensuite / puis | then / next |
| enfin / finalement | finally |
Contrasting
| French | English |
|---|
| mais | but |
| cependant | however |
| pourtant | yet / nevertheless |
| par contre | on the other hand |
| malgré (+ noun) | despite |
| bien que (+ subjunctive) | although |
| tandis que | whereas |
Cause and Effect
| French | English |
|---|
| parce que / car | because |
| puisque | since / as |
| donc | so / therefore |
| à cause de (+ noun) | because of |
| grâce à (+ noun) | thanks to |
| c'est pourquoi | that's why |
Complex Structures for Grade 7+
1. Avant de / Après avoir + Past Participle
- Avant de partir, j'ai mangé. — Before leaving, I ate.
- Après avoir fini mes devoirs, je suis sorti. — After finishing my homework, I went out.
- Après être arrivé(e), j'ai téléphoné. — After arriving, I phoned.
2. En + Present Participle (while / by doing)
Form: en + verb stem (nous form) + -ant
- En mangeant, il regarde la télé. — While eating, he watches TV.
- En travaillant dur, on peut réussir. — By working hard, you can succeed.
3. Ce qui / Ce que (what — as subject/object)
- Ce qui m'énerve, c'est la pollution. — What annoys me is pollution.
- Ce que j'aime, c'est voyager. — What I love is travelling.
4. Si Clauses (If sentences)
- Si j'avais le choix, je vivrais en France. — If I had the choice, I would live in France.
- Si je gagnais au loto, j'achèterais une grande maison. — If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.
5. Impersonal Expressions
- Il est important de protéger l'environnement. — It is important to protect the environment.
- Il vaut mieux manger sainement. — It is better to eat healthily.
- Il me semble que c'est injuste. — It seems to me that it's unfair.
- Il s'agit de la pollution. — It's about pollution.
Opinion Phrases (vary these in writing and speaking)
| Basic (Grade 4–5) | Advanced (Grade 7+) |
|---|
| Je pense que | À mon avis / Selon moi |
| J'aime | Ce qui me plaît, c'est... |
| C'est bien | C'est formidable / génial |
| Je n'aime pas | Ce qui m'énerve, c'est... |
| Je crois que | Je suis convaincu(e) que... |
| Il me semble que... |
| Je suis persuadé(e) que... |
Exam Tips
- The AQA mark scheme explicitly rewards a variety of structures — aim for at least 5 different connectives per 150-word task.
- Après avoir + past participle and en + present participle are the two highest-impact structures for the least effort.
- In speaking, have 3–4 complex opinion phrases memorised and ready: they work for any topic.
- Never start consecutive sentences the same way — vary your openers (time phrase, opinion, connective, pronoun, impersonal expression).
- Grade 9 responses typically feature ce qui/ce que, si clauses, and subjunctive phrases naturally woven in.