6.2.9
Relative Pronouns
Qui, Que, Dont
Qui, Que, Dont
'Qui', 'que' and 'dont' are used to refer to both people and things.
Qui - who, which, that
Qui - who, which, that
- 'Qui' is used for the person or the thing doing the action.
- Ma sœur, qui a vingt-trois ans, habite à l'étranger.
- My sister, who is 23, lives abroad.
- Ma sœur, qui a vingt-trois ans, habite à l'étranger.
- 'Qui' is also used after prepositions (à, pour or de).
- Elle parle avec qui?
- Who is she talking to?
- La femme à qui il parle.
- The women he is speaking to.
- Elle parle avec qui?
Que - who, whom, which, that
Que - who, whom, which, that
- 'Que' is used for the object, the person or thing having the action done to them.
- Le bus que j'ai pris.
- The bus that I caught.
- Les amis que je vois le moins sont Sam et Theo.
- The friends that I see the least are Sam and Theo.
- Le bus que j'ai pris.
Dont - of which, about which, whose
Dont - of which, about which, whose
- 'Dont' is used to replace 'de' when 'de' follows a verb.
- Parler de → L'homme dont nous avons parlé.
- To speak about → The man about which we spoke.
- Parler de → L'homme dont nous avons parlé.
- When talking about something as part of a group.
- Elle est propriétaire de cinq maisons dont une est à l'étranger.
- She owns five houses, of which one is abroad.
- Elle est propriétaire de cinq maisons dont une est à l'étranger.
- 'Dont' replaces 'de' when it talks about possession.
- C'est un auteur dont j'admire l'œuvre.
- The author whose work I admire.
- C'est un auteur dont j'admire l'œuvre.
Ce qui, Ce que, Ce dont, Quoi
Ce qui, Ce que, Ce dont, Quoi
These are called indefinite relative pronouns. They are used in relative clauses.
Ce qui - what, which
Ce qui - what, which
- 'Ce qui' is the subject of a sentence, it takes the 'il/elle/on' form of the verb.
- Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la nourriture.
- What interests me is the food.
- Tu sais ce qui me ferait plaisir?
- Do you know what would please me?
- C'est ce qui fait son charme.
- That is what is part of his charm.
- Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la nourriture.
Ce que, qu' - what
Ce que, qu' - what
- "Ce que, qu'" is used as a direct object. It comes after the subject and a verb.
- It's used when no prepositions are needed.
- Pour faire valoir ce que de droit.
- For all due intents and purposes.
- Dis-moi ce que tu en penses.
- Tell me what you think of it.
- Il peut dire ce qu'il veut.
- He can say what he wants.
- Pour faire valoir ce que de droit.
Ce dont - which, what
Ce dont - which, what
- 'Ce dont' is used instead of the preposition 'de'.
- Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est un stylo.
- What I need is a pen.
- Ce dont il a peur, c'est les araignées.
- What he is scared of is spiders.
- J'oublie tout ce dont j'ai rêvé.
- I forget all of what I dreamed.
- Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est un stylo.
Quoi - which, what
Quoi - which, what
- 'Quoi' is used instead of any preposition that isn't 'de'.
- J'ai regardé la télé, après quoi j'ai fait mon devoir.
- I watched the tv, after which I did my homework.
- Son mari ferait n'importe quoi pour lui.
- Her husband would do anything for her.
- Ce avec quoi je suis d'accord.
- What I agree with.
- J'ai regardé la télé, après quoi j'ai fait mon devoir.
1Identity & Culture
1.1Me, my family and friends
1.1.1Describing Yourself
1.1.2Physical Appearance
1.1.3Personality
1.1.4Friends
1.1.5Opinions on Friends
1.1.6Relationships
1.1.7Family
1.1.8Other Family Members
1.1.9Me, My Friends & My Family - Listening
1.1.10Pets
1.1.11Style & Fashion
1.1.12Shopping for Clothes
1.1.13Materials
1.1.14Exam-Style Questions - Pets
1.2Time
1.3Technology in Everyday Life
1.4Free-Time Activities
1.4.1In Your Free-Time
1.4.2Music
1.4.3Music - Listening
1.4.4Cinema
1.4.5TV
1.4.6Cinema & TV - Listening
1.4.7Food
1.4.8Eating Out
1.4.9Opinions on Food
1.4.10Fruits
1.4.11Vegetables
1.4.12Other Food
1.4.13Meat
1.4.14Fish
1.4.15Food - Listening
1.4.16Sport
1.4.17Why Do You Play Sport?
1.4.18Different Sports
1.4.19Exam-Style Questions - Sport
1.4.20Exam-Style Questions - Thierry Henry
1.5Festivals in French-Speaking Countries
2Areas of Interest
2.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region
2.2Social Issues
3Study & Employment
4Common Tenses
4.1Present Tense
4.1.1Regular ER Verbs
4.1.25 Common ER Verbs
4.1.3Regular IR Verbs
4.1.45 Common IR Verbs
4.1.5Regular RE Verbs
4.1.65 Common RE Verbs
4.1.7Reflexive Verbs
4.1.8Irregular ER Verbs - Aller
4.1.9Stem-Changing Verbs
4.1.10Irregular IR Verbs Like 'Partir'
4.1.11Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'vrir'
4.1.12Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'enir'
4.1.13Irregular IR Verbs With No Pattern
4.1.14Modal Irregular IR Verbs
4.1.15Irregular RE Verbs
4.1.16Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern
4.1.17ER Present Participles
4.1.18IR Present Participle
4.1.19RE Present Participle
4.1.20Irregular Present Participles
4.1.21Avoir
4.1.22Être
4.2Perfect Tense
4.2.1Perfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs
4.2.2Perfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs
4.2.3Perfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs
4.2.4Irregular Past Participles
4.2.5Irregular Past Participles 2
4.2.6Être ER Verbs
4.2.7Être IR Verbs
4.2.8Être RE Verbs
4.2.9Irregular Être - 'Venir'
4.2.10Irregular Être - 'Naître' & 'Mourir'
4.2.11Perfect Infinitive - Using Avoir
4.2.12Perfect Infinitive - Using Être
4.3Imperfect Tense
4.3.1Imperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs
4.3.2Imperfect Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs
4.3.3Imperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs
4.3.4Imperfect Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs
4.3.5Imperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs
4.3.6Imperfect Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs
4.3.7Imperfect Tense - Irregular ER Verbs
4.3.8Imperfect Tense - Irregular IR Verbs
4.3.9Imperfect Tense - Irregular RE Verbs
4.3.10Imperfect Tense - Être
4.4Imperfect vs Perfect
5Advanced Tenses
5.1Conditional Tense
5.2Pluperfect Tense
5.3Present Subjunctive
5.3.1Present Subjunctive - Regular ER Verbs
5.3.2Present Subjunctive - Regular IR Verbs
5.3.3Present Subjunctive - Regular RE Verbs
5.3.4Present Subjunctive - Two-Stem Irregulars
5.3.5Present Subjunctive - Complete Irregulars
5.3.6Present Subjunctive - Using the Subjunctive
5.3.7Present Subjunctive - Imperative
6Extra Grammar
6.1The Passive Voice
6.2Pronouns
6.3Asking Questions
6.4Nouns
6.5Prepositions
6.7Quantifiers & Intensifiers
6.8Adjectives
6.8.1Adjectives Must Agree
6.8.2Irregular Agreements
6.8.3No Pattern Irregulars
6.8.4Position of Adjectives: After the Noun
6.8.5Position of Adjectives: Before the Noun
6.8.6Position of Adjectives: Changing Meanings
6.8.7Comparative Adjectives
6.8.8Superlative Adjectives
6.8.9Good, Better, Best
6.8.10Demonstrative Adjectives
6.8.11Indefinite Adjectives
Jump to other topics
1Identity & Culture
1.1Me, my family and friends
1.1.1Describing Yourself
1.1.2Physical Appearance
1.1.3Personality
1.1.4Friends
1.1.5Opinions on Friends
1.1.6Relationships
1.1.7Family
1.1.8Other Family Members
1.1.9Me, My Friends & My Family - Listening
1.1.10Pets
1.1.11Style & Fashion
1.1.12Shopping for Clothes
1.1.13Materials
1.1.14Exam-Style Questions - Pets
1.2Time
1.3Technology in Everyday Life
1.4Free-Time Activities
1.4.1In Your Free-Time
1.4.2Music
1.4.3Music - Listening
1.4.4Cinema
1.4.5TV
1.4.6Cinema & TV - Listening
1.4.7Food
1.4.8Eating Out
1.4.9Opinions on Food
1.4.10Fruits
1.4.11Vegetables
1.4.12Other Food
1.4.13Meat
1.4.14Fish
1.4.15Food - Listening
1.4.16Sport
1.4.17Why Do You Play Sport?
1.4.18Different Sports
1.4.19Exam-Style Questions - Sport
1.4.20Exam-Style Questions - Thierry Henry
1.5Festivals in French-Speaking Countries
2Areas of Interest
2.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region
2.2Social Issues
3Study & Employment
4Common Tenses
4.1Present Tense
4.1.1Regular ER Verbs
4.1.25 Common ER Verbs
4.1.3Regular IR Verbs
4.1.45 Common IR Verbs
4.1.5Regular RE Verbs
4.1.65 Common RE Verbs
4.1.7Reflexive Verbs
4.1.8Irregular ER Verbs - Aller
4.1.9Stem-Changing Verbs
4.1.10Irregular IR Verbs Like 'Partir'
4.1.11Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'vrir'
4.1.12Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'enir'
4.1.13Irregular IR Verbs With No Pattern
4.1.14Modal Irregular IR Verbs
4.1.15Irregular RE Verbs
4.1.16Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern
4.1.17ER Present Participles
4.1.18IR Present Participle
4.1.19RE Present Participle
4.1.20Irregular Present Participles
4.1.21Avoir
4.1.22Être
4.2Perfect Tense
4.2.1Perfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs
4.2.2Perfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs
4.2.3Perfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs
4.2.4Irregular Past Participles
4.2.5Irregular Past Participles 2
4.2.6Être ER Verbs
4.2.7Être IR Verbs
4.2.8Être RE Verbs
4.2.9Irregular Être - 'Venir'
4.2.10Irregular Être - 'Naître' & 'Mourir'
4.2.11Perfect Infinitive - Using Avoir
4.2.12Perfect Infinitive - Using Être
4.3Imperfect Tense
4.3.1Imperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs
4.3.2Imperfect Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs
4.3.3Imperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs
4.3.4Imperfect Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs
4.3.5Imperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs
4.3.6Imperfect Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs
4.3.7Imperfect Tense - Irregular ER Verbs
4.3.8Imperfect Tense - Irregular IR Verbs
4.3.9Imperfect Tense - Irregular RE Verbs
4.3.10Imperfect Tense - Être
4.4Imperfect vs Perfect
5Advanced Tenses
5.1Conditional Tense
5.2Pluperfect Tense
5.3Present Subjunctive
5.3.1Present Subjunctive - Regular ER Verbs
5.3.2Present Subjunctive - Regular IR Verbs
5.3.3Present Subjunctive - Regular RE Verbs
5.3.4Present Subjunctive - Two-Stem Irregulars
5.3.5Present Subjunctive - Complete Irregulars
5.3.6Present Subjunctive - Using the Subjunctive
5.3.7Present Subjunctive - Imperative
6Extra Grammar
6.1The Passive Voice
6.2Pronouns
6.3Asking Questions
6.4Nouns
6.5Prepositions
6.7Quantifiers & Intensifiers
6.8Adjectives
6.8.1Adjectives Must Agree
6.8.2Irregular Agreements
6.8.3No Pattern Irregulars
6.8.4Position of Adjectives: After the Noun
6.8.5Position of Adjectives: Before the Noun
6.8.6Position of Adjectives: Changing Meanings
6.8.7Comparative Adjectives
6.8.8Superlative Adjectives
6.8.9Good, Better, Best
6.8.10Demonstrative Adjectives
6.8.11Indefinite Adjectives
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