“Aussitôt” is a French adverb used to indicate that something happened or is about to happen after another action. This is a word that can be translated to “immediately” or to “as soon as“. Here, we’ll see how and when to use this so you can add clarity and precision to your vocabulary.
What Aussitôt can Mean in French?
Aussitôt can have various meanings in French. It can be translated :
- as soon as
Je viendrai vous voir aussitôt que je le pourrai.
I’ll come as soon as I can.
- immediately
Une proposition pareille ne serait que rejetée aussitôt.
Such a proposal would only be turned down immediately.
- at once
Aussitôt que j’ai reçu ton appel, j’ai arrêté tout ce que je faisais pour te répondre, car je savais que c’était important.
At once that I received your call, I stopped everything I was doing to answer you, because I knew it was important.
Aussitôt in French Conditional Sentences
This expression is mostly used in conditional sentences. They’re statements that voice a situation and its consequences. They typically consist of two clauses, the conditional, and the result.
So, when you’re using “aussitôt” you’re actually putting this on the first clause, the situation.
Aussitôt que j’aurai fini mes devoirs, je vais me reposer.
As soon as I finish my homework, I’m going to rest.
In this example, you can see that you’re introducing the action that’s going to lead to the consequence. When you’re done with your homework, you’re going to rest. This lets people know that you have to get your homework done before you can go and rest.
Aussitôt que tu sauras quelque chose, tu nous diras.
As soon as you know something, you’ll let us know.
Aussitôt que vous l’achetez, vous pouvez commencer a jouer.
As soon as you buy it, you can start playing.
Common Mistakes When Using aussitôt in French Conditional Sentences
Some common mistakes when you’re using this adverb are that this can be mistaken for similar adverbs like “immédiatement” or “sitôt que“, you have to be careful because they don’t have the same meaning and therefore, they’re not used in the same way.
You can’t forget to conjugate the verbs with the “si” clause, they have to be conjugated to go along with the subject of the sentence.
And last but definitely not least, you have to remember that “aussitôt” should be used to describe an action that’s taking place immediately after another action.
Does aussitôt que require the subjunctive?
No, aussitôt que does not take the subjunctive.
You’re Ready to Use “aussitôt” Without a Hitch
Keep in mind that it is important to understand the correct usage of “aussitôt” in French to communicate effectively and accurately. So, put your knowledge to the test and start practicing with your friends and family.
Learn more about How does the French Conditional work