d’ici à ce que
The French phrase d’ici à ce que means “until” or “by the time that.” It introduces a subordinate clause that describes a future event or state. The action in the main clause happens before that future event occurs, or continues up to that point.
The phrase always takes the subjunctive mood in the clause that follows. This is because the future event is not certain or has not happened yet. The subjunctive marks that uncertainty.
Breakdown:
- d’ici = from now
- à = to
- ce que = the fact that (introducing a clause)
Together: from now until the moment when something happens.
Usage rules
You use d’ici à ce que when you want to set a limit in time. That limit is another action, not a fixed clock time or date. For fixed times, use d’ici à + noun (e.g., d’ici à demain).
The verb after d’ici à ce que is always in the subjunctive. Common subjunctive forms appear often with this phrase.
Examples:
- D’ici à ce qu’il arrive, nous aurons fini de manger. – “By the time he arrives, we will have finished eating.”
- Je vais attendre d’ici à ce que tu aies terminé. – “I am going to wait until you have finished.”
- D’ici à ce que le train parte, prenons un café. – “Until the train leaves, let us have a coffee.”
- Elle ne sortira pas d’ici à ce que la pluie cesse. – “She will not go out until the rain stops.”
- D’ici à ce que vous receviez ma lettre, j’aurai déjà changé d’adresse. – “By the time you receive my letter, I will have already changed my address.”
- Il faudra patienter d’ici à ce que le médecin soit libre. – “We will have to wait until the doctor is free.”
Tense combinations
The main clause often uses the future tense or the future perfect. It can also use the present tense for a current state that will continue.
- Future perfect + subjunctive (future): D’ici à ce qu’elle revienne, j’aurai préparé le dîner. – “By the time she comes back, I will have prepared dinner.”
- Future + subjunctive: D’ici à ce que tu comprennes, je t’expliquerai dix fois. – “Until you understand, I will explain ten times.”
- Present + subjunctive: Je reste ici d’ici à ce que tu appelles. – “I am staying here until you call.”
- Imperative + subjunctive: Attends d’ici à ce qu’il se réveille. – “Wait until he wakes up.”
Synonyms and alternatives
- jusqu’à ce que + subjunctive – “until” (the most direct synonym, more common in everyday speech)
- en attendant que + subjunctive – “while waiting for” (focuses on the waiting period)
- avant que + subjunctive – “before” (different logic, but similar in some contexts)
Compare:
- J’attends jusqu’à ce qu’il vienne. – “I am waiting until he comes.” (neutral, standard)
- J’attends d’ici à ce qu’il vienne. – “I am waiting until he comes.” (slightly more formal or emphatic about the time interval)
- En attendant qu’il vienne, je lis. – “While waiting for him to come, I am reading.” (focus on what you do during the wait)
- D’ici à ce qu’il vienne, je lirai. – “By the time he comes, I will have read.” (focus on completion before his arrival)
- Avant qu’il vienne, nettoie la table. – “Before he comes, clean the table.” (not the same as waiting until he arrives)
Common mistakes
Do not use the indicative mood after d’ici à ce que. The subjunctive is mandatory.
Wrong: D’ici à ce qu’il arrive. (indicative)
Right: D’ici à ce qu’il arrive. (subjunctive – same spelling for this verb, but the rule holds for all verbs)
Do not confuse d’ici à ce que with d’ici là. D’ici là is an adverbial phrase that stands alone or modifies a whole sentence. D’ici à ce que introduces a full clause with a verb.
Wrong: D’ici là, il vienne. – (incomplete, wrong construction)
Right: D’ici à ce qu’il vienne, je serai parti. – “By the time he comes, I will have left.”
Do not use d’ici à ce que with a noun. Use d’ici à + noun for that:
- D’ici à demain, tu dois répondre. – “By tomorrow, you must reply.”
- Not: D’ici à ce que demain.
Practical notes
D’ici à ce que is more formal than jusqu’à ce que. In spoken French, the French often prefer jusqu’à ce que or simply avant que depending on meaning. D’ici à ce que appears more in writing, news, or careful speech.
You can shorten it in very informal speech to d’ici que (dropping à ce), but this is grammatically loose and not recommended for formal contexts.
Examples of the informal shortening:
- D’ici qu’il se décide, on aura tout perdu. – “By the time he makes up his mind, we will have lost everything.” (colloquial)
Summary
- D’ici à ce que means “until” or “by the time that” and introduces a future action.
- It always takes the subjunctive in the dependent clause.
- The main clause often uses future, future perfect, or present tenses.
- Synonyms include jusqu’à ce que (more common) and en attendant que (different focus).
- Do not confuse it with d’ici là (adverb) or d’ici à + noun (fixed time).
