Hello English speakers who want to learn French 🙂 !
The relative pronouns QUI and QUE.
In this article I share with you how to use the relative pronouns:
- QUI
- QUE
QUI and QUE are relative pronouns
| Not to be confused with the interrogative words
Qui va là ? → Who's there ? Que veux-tu ? → What do you want ? Or with the conjunction Je veux que tu partes. → I want you to leave. |
The relative pronouns QUI
- QUI replaces the subject
Example :
Ali a un frère. Ce frère est pilote. → Ali has a brother. This brother is a pilot.
Ali a un frère qui est pilote. → Ali has a brother who is a pilot.
The subject Ce frère of the sentence Ce frère est pilote is replaced by qui in the sentence Ali a un frère qui est pilote.
- QUI is followed by a verb
Example :
Ali a un frère qui est pilote. → Ali has a brother who is a pilot.
qui is followed by the verb est (infinitive: être).
The relative pronouns QUE
- QUE remplaces the direct object complement (DOC)
Example :
Tu as regardé la vidéo ? Je t’ai envoyé cette vidéo. → Did you watch the video ? I sent you this video.
Tu as regardé la vidéo que je t’ai envoyée ? → Did you watch the video I sent you ?
The DOC vidéo of the sentence Je t’ai envoyé cette vidéo is replaced by que.
- QUE is followed by the subject
Tu as regardé la vidéo que je t’ai envoyée ? → Did you watch the video I sent you ?
que is followed by the subject je.
Note
QUE turns into QU’ before a vowel (a e i o u).
QUI does not transform in front of a vowel.
Conclusion
The choice of QUI or QUE depends on the function (Subject / DOC) and whether it is followed by the subject or the verb.
Exercises
1 - Je t’ai acheté une robe. La robe est trop petite.
I bought you a dress. The dress is too small.
La robe……………………………………….………………………………………………………………j'ai achetée est trop petite.
The dress I bought is too small.
2 - Tu m'as dit une chose. Je ne te pardonnerai jamais cette chose.
You told me one thing. I will never forgive you for this thing.
Tu m'as dit une chose…………………………………………………………………..……..je ne te pardonnerai jamais.
You told me one thing that I will never forgive you.
3 - Je connais une personne. Cette personne parle très bien français.
I know a person. This person speaks very good French.
Je connais une personne………………………………………………………………………………parle très bien français.
I know someone who speaks French very well.
4 - Tu as acheté une voiture. Cette voiture est une Renault.
You bought a car. This car is a Renault.
La voiture………………………………………………………………………………………………tu as achetée est une Renault.
The car you bought is a Renault.
5 - J’ai eu un chien pour Noël. Ce chien s’appelle Fifi.
I had a dog for Christmas. This dog is called Fifi.
Le chien…………………………………………………………………………………………………j’ai eu pour Noël s’appelle Fifi.
The dog I got for Christmas is called Fifi.
6 - Ton copain travaille chez Google. Ton copain est ingénieur.
Your boyfriend works at Google. Your boyfriend is an engineer.
Ton copain…………………………………………………………………………………..travaille chez Google est ingénieur ?
Your boyfriend who works at Google is an engineer?
7 - Tu me parle d’un livre. Antoine m’a prêté ce livre.
You tell me about a book. Antoine lent me this book.
Tu me parles du livre…………………………………………………………………………………………….Antoine m’a prêté ?
You tell me about the book Antoine lent me?
8 - Je ne révise que ces chapitres. Ces chapitres m’intéressent.
I only review these chapters. These chapters interest me.
Je ne révise que les chapitres…………….………………………………………………………………..………..m'intéressent.
I only review the chapters that interest me.
9 - Vous pensez aller à cet hôtel. Nous avons visité cet hôtel.
You are thinking of going to this hotel. We visited this hotel
Vous pensez aller à l’hôtel………………………………………………………………………….…………..nous avons visité ?
Thinking of going to the hotel we visited?
10 - Ils ont un chat. Ce chat a des oreilles noires et une queue toute blanche.
They have a cat. This cat has black ears and a tail all white.
Ils ont un chat………………………………………………………….a des oreilles noires et une queue toute blanche.
They have a cat with black ears and a white tail.
Answers
1 - que. La robe is DOC of the verb achetée (infinitive : acheter). que is followed by the subject j’
2 - que. une chose is DOC of the verb pardonnerai (infinitive : pardonner). que is followed by the subject je
3 - qui. Cette personne is the subject of the sentence Cette personne parle très bien français. qui is followed by the verb parle (infinitif : parler)
4 - que. Cette voiture is DOC of the verb acheté (infinitive : acheter). que is followe by the subject tu
5 - que. Ce chien is DOC of the verb eu (infinitive : avoir). que is followed by te subject j’
6 - qui. Ton copain is subject of the verb est (infinitive : être). qui is followed by the verb travaille (infinitif : travailler)
7 - qu’. ce livre is DOC of the verb a prêté (infinitive : avoir prêté). qu’ is followed by the subject Antoine.
8 - qui. Ces chapitres is subject of the verb intéressent (infinitive : intéresser). qui is followed by the verb intéressent.
9 - que. cet hôtel is DOC of the verb visité (infinitive : visiter). que is followed by the subject nous.
10 - qui. Ce chat is subject of the verb a (infinitive : avoir). qui is followed by the verb a.
To complete my article you can read How to Use Qui and Que in French from http://frenchyourway.com.au.
What do you want to learn about the French language, tell me in the comments, I will write an article about it !
Thank you 🙂
Thomas