What does alors que mean

Can alors que and tandis que be used interchangeably or are there certain cases when one is more relevant?

Ok, take this as a first approach, Elisabeth. Other people will certainly amend it or go further into details. And let me apologize in advance if I say things that you already know. These two conjunctions work more or less as the English "while" but do no necessarily translate "while". However, while "tandis que" can still convey one or the other idea, "alors que" seems to be more and more used only for opposition. At least, my French dictionnary says that "alors que" is old-fashioned as a time conjunction.

I use both as "opposition" conjunctions 2. Despite what my dictionnary says, I also use both as time conjunctions, only I reserve "alors que" for very precise moments, for actions that do not last, that happen at a very precise point in time. Il est sorti pour m'accuellir alors que je franchissais le portail du jardin Il est sorti pour m'accueillir tandis que je cherchais ma carte de visite. I hope this is clear but I can't guarantee its accuracy. Wait for the others.

I've just realized I'd forgotten to give you examples with the "oppostion" meaning. La sienne a un garage alors que la mienne n'en a pas. La sienne a un garage tandis que la mienne n'en a pas. Here, both conjunctions are interchangeable, I think. Last edited by a moderator: Aug 27, My understanding is "alors que" brings out the contrast une opposition and "tandis que" brings out the difference.

The opposition is between come and not come. I just made it up, I know nothing about roses. May and end of summer can hardly be called opposite, right? Alors que as a time conjunction. I have never been taught that it is old-fashioned.

That's exactly it. What's the difference between all the phrases: pendant que, alors que, lorsque, etc? Are these following words? It doesn't mean the same thing : If you say: "You read when I write", it means that whenever you read, I write or, if you prefer, I only write when you read; when you stop reading, I stop writing. In this context, with the "as", it's more of an opposition at least it is if you look at the French translation : we're not doing the same thing and we're emphasizing it: you read, where as I write.

How do I differentiate time from this? Is it correct to say that alors que is ambiguous without context.

I think 'pendant que' was used when the two actions were the same so 'whereas' couldn't have been correct. My first try was 'therefore' when I saw 'alors que' in this sentance. It was wrong. Now I know what it means I tapped on the words to see the translations and see that 'in that case' is listed as a possible one. To me 'in that case' and 'therefore' both have the meaning that 'because you are doing this action I am doing this other action'. I like it. Sorry no reference at this time. Is there a difference between while and whilst?

As an English person I don't know of any difference. Just a suggestion. Get started. July 6, LupoLinguistica September 27, May 31, AceDeMarcs July 16, CherylFont1 Plus June 11, February 22, Not sure I explained well, but January 27, So pendant que is similar to 'while' and alors que is similar to 'whereas'? May 29, May 24, February 2, March 12, The French person in me agees with you. November 22, Thank you Nelly, for my part you explained that very well indeed.

March 25, The suggestion says alors means even though. But when I used it I got an error! What is the difference between alors que and lorsque? January 19, April 12, July 10, Then what do we do , One? Alors que fait-on? It's a tie. So what do we do with the Accordionist? Alors que fait-on maintenant, Walter? So what do we do now, Walter? Et alors que fait-on? And so what do we do? Non, alors que fait-on?

No, so what do we do? So what do we do now? Si on ne peut s'aider, alors que fait-on dans un pays? If we cannot help each other, what are we doing in a country? D'accord, alors que fait-on? Okay, so what is going on? It's like for instance, when you have some task that you have to do at work, and you don't really feel like doing it, what do you do?

Alors que fait-on pour le retrouver?