What is the difference between quoique and quoi que?

One word, quoique, means although and is a synonym of bien que: quoiqu'il soit riche, il n'est pas heureux (although he is rich, he is not happy). Two words, quoi que, means whatever and stands in for the object of the verb: quoi que tu fasses, je te soutiendrai (whatever you do, I will back you). Both take the subjunctive, so the mood will not help. Try bien que: if the sentence still works, write one word.

Why is it quel que soit le prix and not quelque soit le prix?

Because quel here is an adjective that agrees with the noun after the verb, and before a verb it is two words. The four forms are quel que soit le prix, quelle que soit la raison, quels que soient les résultats and quelles que soient les difficultés. The verb agrees too, so a plural noun gives soient. Quelque as one word goes before a noun and means some: quelques amis.

French Concession Clauses: quoi que, où que, quel que soit

Q: How do you say wherever, whoever and whenever in French?

Wherever is où que + subjunctive: où que tu ailles, je te trouverai. Whoever is qui que: qui que vous soyez, vous devez attendre, and qui que ce soit means anyone at all. Whenever has no matching form: use n'importe quand, quand tu veux, or chaque fois que with the indicative for every time. There is no quand que.

Q: How do you say however plus an adjective?

With si or aussi + adjective + que + subjunctive: si difficile que ce soit, aussi riche qu'il soit (however difficult it is, however rich he is). Pour intelligent qu'il soit is the literary version. Tout riche qu'il est traditionally takes the indicative, because tout grants the quality as a fact. In everyday speech, même si c'est difficile does the same job with the indicative.

Q: Why do concession clauses take the subjunctive?

Because they assert nothing. Quoi que tu fasses does not claim that any particular thing will be done; it names a whole range of possibilities to say the outcome is the same across all of them. Nothing in the clause is put forward as true, which is what the subjunctive marks. That is why quoi que tu fais and où que tu vas read as plain errors.

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

French has no -ever. Whatever, wherever, whoever and however are separate structures, and every one of them takes the subjunctive.

subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

Structure	Example	English
		whatever you do
		wherever you go
		whoever you are
+ être		whatever the price
+ adj. +		however difficult it is
`...`		whether he comes or not

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Quoique (although) or quoi que (whatever)? Try bien que: if it fits, it is one word.

tu dises, je ne changerai pas d'avis.
mon frère soit riche, il n'est pas heureux.
vous en pensiez, la décision est prise.

A concession clause names a whole range of possibilities to say none of them changes the outcome. Nothing in it is asserted, which is the subjunctive's job, as with on the conjunctions page.

Quoi que: whatever

subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

stands in for a thing, usually the object of the verb:

, . - Whatever you do, I will back you.
, . - Whatever you think of it, the decision is made.

Three set phrases are worth learning whole:

Phrase	English	Example
	whatever happens	`, .`
	be that as it may	`, .`
	anything at all	`, -.`

Quoique or quoi que?

subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

Two spellings, both followed by the subjunctive, so the mood will not save you:

Spelling	Means	Example
	although (= )	`, .`
	whatever	`, .`

The clue is the gap. After , the verb is missing something, usually its object, because fills that slot. After , the clause is complete:

Opener

Subject

Verb

Object or rest

’

Où que and qui que

subjunctiveindicativeWhat do the colours mean?

is wherever, and is whoever. Same pattern, same mood:

, . - Wherever you go, I will find you.
, . - Wherever he comes from, he is welcome.
, . - Whoever you are, you have to wait.

on its own means anyone at all: . - Don't tell anyone at all.

Quel que soit: the one that agrees

masculinefemininepluralWhat do the colours mean?

Here is an adjective, and it agrees with a noun that comes after the verb. The verb agrees with that noun too: for one, for several.

quel agrees with the noun after être

Noun	Example	English
masc. sing.		whatever the price
fem. sing.		whatever the reason
masc. plural		whatever the results
fem. plural		whatever the difficulties

In a full sentence:

, . - Whatever the price, I will buy it.
, . - Whatever the difficulties, she will succeed.

Find the noun first, then go back and fix the two words in front of it.

Quelque or quel que?

The same sounds, two spellings. Before a verb it is two words; before a noun it is one:

Spelling	Comes before	Example
	a verb ()
	a noun: some	(a few friends)

However + adjective: si difficile que

subjunctiveindicativeWhat do the colours mean?

For "however" + an adjective, French uses or , then the adjective, then and the subjunctive:

Opener	Example	English
	`, .`	However hard it is, we must.
	`, .`	However rich he is, he is unhappy.
(lit.)	`, .`	However clever he is, he is wrong.
	`, .`	Rich as he is, he is unhappy.

This is not the of "if", and the si clause rules do not touch it. ... traditionally takes the indicative, because grants the quality as a fact; the subjunctive is increasingly found there too.

In everyday speech, + indicative does the same job: , . - Even if it is difficult, we have to do it.

Whether or not: qu'il vienne ou non

subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

A bare at the start of the sentence gives "whether ... or ...", with the subjunctive:

, . - Whether he comes or not, we will leave at eight.
, . - Whether you agree or not, it is decided.
, . - Rain or shine, the match will go ahead.

When a whole second clause follows, comes back ( ). and need nothing after them.

Mistakes English speakers make

Wrong	Right	Why
		concession: subjunctive
		concession: subjunctive
		two words before a verb
		both agree with the plural noun
		there is no
`...`		... : subjunctive

What to do next

Write three promises: one with , one with , one with .
Read the subjunctive after conjunctions for and its relatives.
Then the subjunctive after superlatives: .

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/5

Quoique (although) or quoi que (whatever)? Try bien que: if it fits, it is one word.

tu dises, je ne changerai pas d'avis.
mon frère soit riche, il n'est pas heureux.
vous en pensiez, la décision est prise.
nous soyons fatigués, nous continuerons.
le problème soit difficile, il a une solution.

Build the word

0/4

Build the word that agrees with the noun after the verb.

___ que soit la raison (whatever the reason)
Or type the word
Accents optional
Your word is empty.
___ que soient les résultats (whatever the results)
Or type the word
Accents optional
Your word is empty.
___ que soient les difficultés (whatever the difficulties)
Or type the word
Accents optional
Your word is empty.
Quels que ___ les résultats (être)
Or type the word
Accents optional
Your word is empty.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Tap the mistake.

Complete the story

0/5

Choose the right form for each gap.

A note before a long trip

Où que tu , écris-moi. que soit la route, sois prudent. Quoi qu'il , garde ton calme. tu sois très occupé, appelle ta mère. Et qu'il ou non, pars à huit heures !

Gap 1 of 5

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between and ?

One word, , means although and is a synonym of : , (although he is rich, he is not happy). Two words, , means whatever and stands in for the object of the verb: , (whatever you do, I will back you). Both take the subjunctive, so the mood will not help. Try : if the sentence still works, write one word.

Why is it and not ?

Because here is an adjective that agrees with the noun after the verb, and before a verb it is two words. The four forms are , , and . The verb agrees too, so a plural noun gives . as one word goes before a noun and means some: .

How do you say wherever, whoever and whenever in French?

Wherever is + subjunctive: , . Whoever is : , , and means anyone at all. Whenever has no matching form: use , , or with the indicative for every time. There is no .

How do you say however plus an adjective?

With or + adjective + + subjunctive: , (however difficult it is, however rich he is). is the literary version. traditionally takes the indicative, because grants the quality as a fact. In everyday speech, does the same job with the indicative.

Why do concession clauses take the subjunctive?

Because they assert nothing. does not claim that any particular thing will be done; it names a whole range of possibilities to say the outcome is the same across all of them. Nothing in the clause is put forward as true, which is what the subjunctive marks. That is why and read as plain errors.

French Concession Clauses: quoi que, où que, quel que soit

Quick check

Pick the right one

Quoi que: whatever

Quoique or quoi que?

Où que and qui que

Quel que soit: the one that agrees

Quelque or quel que?

However + adjective: si difficile que

Whether or not: qu'il vienne ou non

Mistakes English speakers make

What to do next

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

Build the word

Spot the mistake

Complete the story

Practice worksheets and infographics

Free for members

Frequently asked questions

French Concession Clauses: quoi que, où que, quel que soit

Quick check

Pick the right one

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

Build the word

Spot the mistake

Complete the story

Practice worksheets and infographics

Free for members

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions