B1 French GrammarRelative Clauses
Connect clauses in French using relative pronouns qui, que, dont, où, and understand when to use each.
1Qui (Subject)
Qui is used when the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause. It's followed directly by a verb.
Qui Usage
| Function | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Subject (person) | L'homme qui parle | The man who speaks |
| Subject (thing) | Le livre qui est là | The book that is there |
Examples
La femme qui habite ici est médecin.
The woman who lives here is a doctor.
qui = subject
C'est un film qui m'a plu.
It's a movie that I liked.
qui for things
Les enfants qui jouent sont heureux.
The children who are playing are happy.
qui + verb
Voici le bus qui arrive.
Here's the bus that's arriving.
qui for things
2Que (Object)
Que is used when the relative pronoun is the direct object. It's followed by a subject + verb. Que becomes qu' before vowels.
Que Usage
| Function | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Object (person) | L'homme que je vois | The man whom I see |
| Object (thing) | Le livre que j'ai lu | The book that I read |
Examples
Le film que j'ai vu était excellent.
The film that I saw was excellent.
que = object
La personne que tu connais est là.
The person whom you know is there.
que before subject
Les livres qu'elle achète sont chers.
The books that she buys are expensive.
qu' before vowel
C'est la musique que je préfère.
It's the music that I prefer.
que + subject + verb
3Dont (Of which/Whose)
Dont replaces de + noun. Use it for 'of which', 'whose', or with verbs requiring 'de'.
Dont Usage
| Function | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | La femme dont je connais le fils | The woman whose son I know |
| With de verbs | Le livre dont je parle | The book I'm talking about |
| Of which | La raison dont je me souviens | The reason I remember |
Examples
C'est l'homme dont je t'ai parlé.
He's the man I told you about.
parler de → dont
La chose dont j'ai besoin.
The thing that I need.
avoir besoin de → dont
Le livre dont l'auteur est célèbre.
The book whose author is famous.
dont = whose
Voilà ce dont je rêve.
That's what I dream of.
rêver de → dont
4Où (Where/When)
Où replaces expressions of place or time. It means 'where' or 'when'.
Où Usage
| Function | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Place | La ville où j'habite | The city where I live |
| Time | Le jour où je suis arrivé | The day when I arrived |
| From where | L'endroit d'où je viens | The place I come from |
Examples
C'est la maison où j'ai grandi.
It's the house where I grew up.
où = where
Le moment où je l'ai vu.
The moment when I saw him.
où = when
Le pays d'où elle vient.
The country she comes from.
d'où = from where
L'époque où nous vivions à Paris.
The time when we lived in Paris.
où for time period