Common Phrases

Question 1

of course

Answer 1

bien sûr

Question 2

more particularly

Answer 2

plus particulièrement

Question 3

about what we call

Answer 3

de ce qu’on appelle

Note: de ce que translates to:
of what
that
because

Question 4

or else
as well as
even
alternatively
and/or

Answer 4

ou encore

Question 5

What is
What it is
What is this

Answer 5

Qu’est-ce que c’est

Question 6

who
which
that

Answer 6

qui

Starting with qui, this relative pronoun comes into play when replacing a subject – the thing that is carrying out the action of a verb. Qui can mean “who”, “which” or “that”.

For example, consider the following sentences.

Je parle à mon frère. Mon frère habite à Toulouse.
I am speaking to my brother. My brother lives in Toulouse.

By combining them, you get:

Je parle à mon frère qui habite à Toulouse.
I’m speaking to my brother who lives in Toulouse.

If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a verb or a pronoun (for example, habiter, être or me, lui, y) then it is most likely to be qui. If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a subject (for example, Jean, mon frère, nos frais (our costs) je) then it has to be que.

Question 7

whom
which
that

Answer 7

que

Now, let’s turn our attention to que, which replaces a direct object – the thing that is receiving the action of a verb. Que can mean “which”, “that” or “whom”.

Le manteau que j’ai acheté est blanc.

If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a verb or a pronoun (for example, habiter, être or me, lui, y) then it is most likely to be qui. If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a subject (for example, Jean, mon frère, nos frais (our costs) je) then it has to be que.

Question 8

in all countries

Answer 8

dans tous les pays

Question 9

So I’m going to present the concept to you now.

Answer 9

Je vais donc déjà vous présenter le concept.

Note: donc déjà is:
therefore already
thus already
so already

Question 10

this
that

(demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about)

Answer 10

ce

“Ce” means “this/that” as in “this boy “ or
“this/that month”. You would say “ce garçon” or “ce mois.” This is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about – that one.

The “this” or “that” represented by “ça” is more of a standalone “this/that.”

I know that: “Je sais ça.” I’m using that!
“J’utilise ça!”

Question 11

this
that

(demonstrative pronoun, which is more of a standalone, e.g. I know that: “Je sais ça.”)

Answer 11

ça

“Ce” means “this/that” as in “this boy “ or “this/that month”. You would say “ce garçon” or “ce mois.” This is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about – that one.

The “this” or “that” represented by “ça” is more of a standalone “this/that.”

I know that: “Je sais ça.” I’m using that!
“J’utilise ça!”

Question 12

To ask questions that ask for information like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why” and “how,” place an interrogative pronoun, adverb or adjective before _____________. For example:

Qui ____________ vous avez vu? > Whom did you see?​
Quand ___________ tu vas partir? > When are you going to leave?​
Quel livre ___________‘il veut? > Which book does he want?

Answer 12

To ask questions that ask for information like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why” and “how,” place an interrogative pronoun, adverb or adjective before est-ce que. For example:

Qui est-ce que vous avez vu? > Whom did you see?​
Quand est-ce que tu vas partir? > When are you going to leave?​
Quel livre est-ce qu’il veut? > Which book does he want?
Remember that est-ce que is the inversion of c’est que, meaning literally, “It is that.” That’s why a hyphen is required between est and ce: c’est = ce + est which are inverted to est-ce.

Depending on their place in the sentence, the variations qu’est-ce qui and qui est-ce qui are also useful, but understanding them requires further discussion of interrogative pronouns. For now, here’s a summary.

Question 13

goods

Answer 13

des biens

Question 14

driving

Answer 14

le fait de conduire

le fait translates to:
- act
- doing

de conduire translates to:
- driving
- to drive

Question 15

somewhere

Answer 15

quelque part

Question 16

like
as
as though
since

Answer 16

comme

Question 17

knowledge

Answer 17

des connaissances

Question 18

computer lessons

Answer 18

des cours d’informatique

Question 19

and all that
and so forth
and so on

Answer 19

et tout ça

Question 20

it’s that

Answer 20

c’est que

Question 21

what
which

Relative pronouns refer to something previously mentioned. In French, the equivalent of what/which can be _ _ _ _ _

The pattern to spot is that we use __ ___when the next word is a verb or an object or reflexive pronoun (for example: me, te, se, lui, le, la, nous, vous, leur, les).

__ ___ est important.

Answer 21

ce qui

Relative pronouns refer to something previously mentioned. In French, the equivalent of what/which can be ce qui.
Learn about the French relative pronoun ce qui

These examples show how ce qui (what/which) is used:

Il a gagné la course, ce qui est impressionnant.
He won the race, which is amazing.

Ce qui fait peur ici, ce sont les médias.
What is really scary here, is the media.

Je ne sais pas ce qui m’arrive.
I don’t know what is happening to me.

When to use ce qui instead of ce que

The pattern to spot is that we use ce qui when the next word is a verb or an object or reflexive pronoun (for example: me, te, se, lui, le, la, nous, vous, leur, les).

Note that ce qui never becomes ce qu’ in front of a vowel or a mute h.

Question 22

what
which

The pattern to spot is that we use __ ___when the words immediately following are either a noun or subject pronoun i.e., je, tu, il, elle, on, vous, nous, ils, elles.

__ ___ vous voulez vraiment…)

Answer 22

ce que

Contrast with these sentences where ce que is used - notice the words immediately following, i.e., are either a noun or subject pronoun je, tu, il, elle, on, vous, nous, ils, elles

Ce que vous voulez vraiment, c’est pouvoir utiliser cette perceuse.

What you really want is to be able to use this drill.

Je fais ce que je veux.

I do what I want.

C’est ce que je veux

That’s what I want

Tu ne devineras jamais ce que Paul a fait!

You will never guess what Paul did!

Question 23

rather than
instead

Answer 23

plutôt que

Question 24

it’s not

Answer 24

ce n’est pas

Question 25

_______ means “for” and refers to the entire duration of an action in the past or future, with no relation to the present.

C’est pouvoir utilizer cette perceuse _______ un jour.
It’s being able to use this drill for a day.

Answer 25

pendant

Pendant means “for” and refers to the entire duration of an action in the past or future, with no relation to the present.

C’est pouvoir utilizer cette perceuse pendant un jour.
It’s being able to use this drill for a day.

Question 26

already

Answer 26

déjà

Question 27

When do you use relative pronouns, which are used to introduce a new information in a sentence (as opposed to question words like “what?”).

Once you know this, the separation is quite simple: “qui/que” can mean “who/which/that …” whereas “ce qui/ce que” means “what …”.

Answer 27

e.g. La fille que je regarde. (The girl whom[m]/that I’m watching.)

Les gens qui sont ici. (The people who are here.)

e.g. Je fais ce que je veux. (I do what I want.)

Les gens mangent désormais ce qui est bon. (People now eat what is good.)
Note: désormais means from now on.

Precision: in cases where “ce qui / ce que” would also be translated by “which” in English, you need to ask yourself: What does “que/qui/ce que/ce qui” is referring to?

If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use “que/qui”.
If it refers to the whole part of the sentence, the whole idea, then it will be “ce que/ce qui”.

e.g. Les gens que je rencontre … (The people which I meet…)
Here “que” refers to “people”

e.g. J’aime les bananes, ce que tu trouves fascinant. (I love bananas, which you find fascinating.)
Here “ce que” refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas.

Question 28

When do you use relative pronouns, which are used to introduce a new information in a sentence (as opposed to question words like “what?”).

Once you know this, the separation is quite simple: “qui/que” can mean “who/which/that …” whereas “ce qui/ce que” means “what …”.

Answer 28

The difference and when to use French relative pronouns (que / qui) vs when to use indefinite relative pronouns (ce que / ce qui). is straightforward: you need relative pronouns when there is an antecedent - something specific that the pronoun refers back to: J’ai mangé du pain. Le pain que j’ai mangé était bon.

You need indefinite relative pronouns when there is no antecedent, when the thing is unknown or unspecified: Ce que j’ai mangé était bon.