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French grammar · Level A2–B1

Qui, que, où, dont: relative pronouns

Relative pronouns join two sentences into one, like “who”, “which”, “that”, “where”: J’ai un ami. Il habite à Lyon → J’ai un ami qui habite à Lyon. The choice depends not on gender but on the noun’s role in the relative clause: subject — qui, object — que, place or time — où, a word with de — dont.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Qui or que
  2. Où and dont
  3. Ce qui and ce que
  4. Agreement after que
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Quiz
  7. FAQ

Qui or que

Qui is the subject of the relative clause, so a verb follows straight away (la femme qui parle). Que is the direct object, so its own subject follows (le livre que je lis). Before a vowel que becomes qu’, but qui is never shortened: le film qu’il a vu, l’ami qui a appelé.

  • La femme qui parle est ma prof.The woman who is speaking is my teacher.
  • Le livre que je lis est génial.The book I’m reading is great.
  • C’est un film qu’on adore.It’s a film we love.

Tip: Quick check: look at the word after the gap. A verb means qui; a subject (je, tu, il, Marie…) means que.

Où and dont

Où marks a place (la ville où j’habite) and a time (le jour où je suis né — the day I was born). Dont replaces a noun with de: parler de → le film dont je parle; avoir besoin de → le livre dont j’ai besoin. It also means “whose”: l’ami dont le père est médecin.

Relative pronouns
PronounRoleExample
quisubjectl’homme qui chante
que / qu’direct objectla chanson que j’aime
oùplace, timele café où on se voit
dontde + noun, “whose”le film dont tu parles

Ce qui and ce que

When there’s no noun for the pronoun to refer to, add ce — “what”. The rule is the same: ce qui is the subject (Ce qui m’intéresse, c’est l’histoire), ce que the object (Dis-moi ce que tu veux).

  • Je ne sais pas ce qu’il veut.I don’t know what he wants.
  • Ce qui est important, c’est la santé.What matters is your health.

Agreement after que

In the passé composé with avoir, the participle agrees with a direct object that comes before the verb — which is exactly what happens after que: la robe que j’ai achetée, les photos que tu as prises. You often can’t hear it, but it’s required in writing.

  • La lettre que j’ai écrite est longue.The letter I wrote is long.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: L’homme que parle…

    Right: L’homme qui parle…

    A verb follows, so you need the subject qui.

  • Wrong: Le livre qui je lis…

    Right: Le livre que je lis…

    There’s a subject (je), so use que.

  • Wrong: Le jour que je suis né…

    Right: Le jour où je suis né…

    For time, use où.

  • Wrong: Le film que je t’ai parlé…

    Right: Le film dont je t’ai parlé…

    parler de → dont.

  • Wrong: Je ne sais pas qu’il veut.

    Right: Je ne sais pas ce qu’il veut.

    With no noun, use ce que.

Relative pronouns: qui, que, où, dont

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    La femme _____ parle est ma prof.

  2. Question 2

    Le livre _____ je lis est génial.

  3. Question 3

    La ville _____ j’habite est petite.

  4. Question 4

    Le film _____ je t’ai parlé est sorti.

  5. Question 5

    C’est le jour _____ nous nous sommes rencontrés.

  6. Question 6

    Le garçon _____ tu vois est mon frère.

  7. Question 7

    Dis-moi _____ tu veux.

  8. Question 8

    _____ m’intéresse, c’est l’histoire.

  9. Question 9

    J’ai un ami _____ le père est médecin.

  10. Question 10

    La robe qu’elle a _____ est jolie.

Correct: 0 of 10

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FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

Does the choice depend on gender?

No. Qui, que, où and dont don’t change for gender or number: l’homme qui, la femme qui, les enfants qui. Only their role in the clause matters.

What about prepositions: with whom, in which?

For people use preposition + qui (l’ami avec qui je travaille); for things use lequel, laquelle, lesquels (la table sur laquelle…). That’s the next level, B1–B2.

Can I drop que like “that” in English?

No. English says “the book I read”, but French always needs the pronoun: le livre que je lis.

Other topics

All topicsFrench verb conjugationFrench irregular verbs

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