Pronoms Relatifs Flashcards
qui
[who, which, that]
the subject of the clause, may refer to an object or a person
EX: La femme qui parle est ma mère.
que
[whom, which, that]
the direct object of a clause, may refer to an object or a person
EX: Le garçon que nous avons vu hier est mon frère.
ce qui
[what, that which]
the subject of the clause when there is no antecedent
EX: Comprenez-vous ce qui se passe?
ce que
[what, that which]
the object of a verb in a relative clause when there is no antecedent
EX: Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites.
antecedent
“a word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word.. refers” (Oxford Languages)
EX: “John arrived late because traffic held him up.” (Wikipedia) –> John is the antecedent of “him” because “him” gets its meaning from John
qui (as the object of a preposition)
refers to people only, not objects
EX: La fille à qui vous parlez est gentille.
EX: Le femme pour qui je travaille est intelligente.
lequel, laquelle
lesquels, lesquelles
the relative pronoun used after a preposition, refers to things or people, must agree with the antecedent
EX: La maison dans laquelle Pierre habite est grande.
EX: Le restaurant devant lequel j’ai attendu mon ami est merveilleux.
If you’re referring to people, it’s obligatory to use a form of lequel after the words <> and <>
à + forms of lequel
à + lequel –> auquel
à + laquelle –> à laquelle
à + lesquels –> auxquels
à + lesquelles –> auxquelles
EX: Le concert auquel il a assisté a été bon.
The concert which he attended was good.
où
usually introduces a relative clause referring to a place or time to avoid a preposition + lequel
EX: Instead of <>, say <>
dont
[whose, of/about which, of/about whom]
may refer to people or things, often used instead of de qui or de + lequel
EX: Le femme dont nous parlons est Marie Dupont.
The woman about whom we are speaking is Marie Dupont.
can only be used when it directly follows the noun to which it refers, de + lequel must be used if there is a prepositional phrase after the noun
EX: C’est le garçon avec la sœur duquel je suis sorti.
He is the boy whose sister I went out with.
cannot be followed by a possessive adjective
EX: <> –> <>
de + forms of lequel
de + lequel –> duquel
de + laquelle –> de laquelle
de + lesquels –> desquels
de + lesquelles –> desquelles
most French-speakers use dont instead
quoi
used after a preposition
EX: Je sais de quoi il s’agit.
I know what it is about.
ce dont
can be used before expressions requiring the preposition <>
EX: Il sait ce dont vous avez besoin.
He knows what you need.
