French relative pronouns

Question 1

Qui

Answer 1

Function: Refers to the subject of the relative clause.

Usage: Use qui when the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the relative clause.

Example:
Le livre qui est sur la table est intéressant. (The book that is on the table is interesting.)

Qui replaces the subject in the relative clause, which is “est” in this case.

Question 2

Que

Answer 2

Function: Refers to the direct object of the relative clause.

Usage: Use que when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the verb in the relative clause.

Example:
Le livre que j’ai acheté est intéressant. (The book that I bought is interesting.)

Que replaces the direct object of the verb “acheter” (to buy), which is “le livre.”

Question 2

Dont

Answer 2

Function: Replaces the preposition de + noun (usually expressing possession, necessity, or a relation).

Usage: Use dont when the preposition de is part of the verb, adjective, or noun phrase in the relative clause.

Example:
Le livre dont je parle est intéressant. (The book about which I am talking is interesting.)

Dont replaces the preposition “de” (about) + the object (le livre).

Question 3

Où

Answer 3

Function: Refers to a place or time.

Usage: Use où when the relative pronoun is referring to a place or a time, and it is functioning as an object of the preposition (e.g., in, at, during).

Example:
Le restaurant où nous mangeons est excellent. (The restaurant where we eat is excellent.)

Où is used for the place (restaurant).

Question 4

Lequel / Laquelle / Lesquels / Lesquelles

Answer 4

Function: Refers to the object of a preposition and agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces.

Usage: Use lequel, laquelle, lesquels, or lesquelles when you need to refer to a noun after a preposition other than de. These forms are often used after prepositions like avec (with), pour (for), sans (without), etc.

Example:
Les livres auxquels je pense sont intéressants. (The books to which I am thinking are interesting.)

Lesquels refers to les livres and agrees in number.

They can be combined with de to form duquel, de laquelle, desquels, desquelles, etc., when they replace a noun introduced by de.

Example:
Le livre duquel je parle est intéressant. (The book about which I am talking is interesting.)
Duquel is used here because the noun livre is the object of the preposition de.