Pronouns

Question 1

Relative Pronouns

qui

que

dont

où

lequel

Answer 1

The choice of rel. pr. is determined by the verb of the dependent (or relative) clause.

Is the rel. pr.:

1. the subject or object of that verb?
2. the object of a preposition tied to that verb
3. or the object of a noun (plus “de”) to express possession

Question 2

qui

Answer 2

as subject - translates as who or that, when antecedent (preceding / introductory clause is a person

as subject - translates as that or which when antecedent is an animal or thing

when the relative clause is used to describe the antecedentg clause in a incisice way - in English we might say “that” but in French it would translate as “who” or “which”.

Question 3

qui - subject

Answer 3

qui is the realtive pronouns subject of the dependent verb

the antecedent of a relative pronoun is the noun that pronoun describes

ce sont des gens qui n’aiment rien

c’est toujours moi qui fais la vaiselle

voici le temoin qui a tout entendu

the verb in the relative clause is plural or singular according to the number of the noun in the antecedent clause (as above examples)

Question 4

que - relative pronoun object

(qu’)

Answer 4

(In English, the translation is often “that” and is frequently omitted.)

la fille qu’il a rencontrée là-bas - the girl (that) he met there.

NOTE: when using que in a compound tense with avoir, the past partic. must agree with “que’s” antecedent.

il adore les jouets, qu’il a reçus à Noël.

Question 5

dont

verbs and adjectives + “de”

Answer 5

Dont

Functions as an objects and refers to people or things. It is used mostly to refer to objects of verbs or adjectives that are followed by the preposition “de”.

il a déjà oublié le livre dont j’ai parlé (parler de)

c’est une édifice dont l’architecte il est fier (adjective [fier[introduced by être]

“Dont” is often used today to replace duquel / de laquelle / desquelles / desquels.