Pendant que and the French Subjunctive

Is  pendant que  subjunctive or indicative? This is a question that challenges many French students and theres a simple answer. First, you must ask if  pendant que  (while) is indeed a fact. Does Pendant que Need the Subjunctive? No, pendant que does not take the subjunctive. Pendant que  means while and the act of doing something  while  something  else is occurring  is a reality and a truth. There is no question to pendant que. Heres an example sentence: Jà ©tudie pendant quil fait la cuisine.I study while he cooks. Why doesnt it take the subjunctive? Because the word  while  states a fact. There is no question in this example that I am studying while he cooks. The fact is, therefore, an indicative mood. If there were any question as to the nature of  while  or  pendant que, then it would be subjunctive. Lets look at another example: Elle dessine pendant que je regarde.She draws while I watch. Is there any question here about the reality of her drawing? No, it is a fact that she  is  drawing and that I am watching. There is no question or uncertainty in this sentence.   One last example should concrete the concept of  pendant que: Il attend pendant quils  rà ©parent la voiture.He is waiting while they repair the car. Again, these are facts and there is no question as to what each person involved is doing. Tip:  The same subjunctive rules that apply to  pendant que  also cover  tandis que, which also means while. Its All About Facts Pendant que states a fact. Always keep in mind that the subjunctive has some degree of uncertainty. If your statement cannot be subjective, then it cannot be subjunctive. Use this theory as you encounter and question other possible subjunctive and indicative words and phrases.