🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns are French words that link dependent clauses to nouns or pronouns. They include qui (who/which — subject), que (whom/which — object), où (where), and dont (whose/of which). Each relative pronoun has a specific grammatical function based on its antecedent (the noun it refers to).

Short answer

Relative pronouns are qui, que, où, and dont — French words that connect clauses and modify nouns. They vary by grammatical function: qui (subject), que (object), où (location), dont (possession).

Relative Pronouns by Function

Subject (qui)

•La fille qui parle (the girl who speaks)
•Le livre qui est rouge (the book which is red)
•Action performed by the relative clause subject

Object & Other (que, où, dont)

•que: Le film que j'ai vu (the film I watched)
•où: La maison où j'habite (the house where I live)
•dont: L'homme dont j'ai parlé (the man about whom I spoke)

Step-by-step worked examples

Choose the correct relative pronoun: La femme ___ parle français est canadienne. (The woman who speaks French is Canadian.)

The antecedent is 'femme' (woman)
The relative pronoun is the subject of 'parle' (speaks)
Use 'qui' (subject of the relative clause)
Correct: La femme qui parle français est canadienne

Fill in: Le livre ___ tu as lu est intéressant. (The book that you read is interesting.)

The antecedent is 'livre' (book)
The relative pronoun is the object of 'lu' (read) — tu is the subject
Use 'que' (object of the relative clause)
Correct: Le livre que tu as lu est intéressant

Complete: L'ami ___ j'ai parlé vit à Lyon. (The friend about whom I spoke lives in Lyon.)

The antecedent is 'ami' (friend)
The phrase is 'parler de' (to speak about)
Use 'dont' (possession/about which — replaces 'de qui/lequel')
Correct: L'ami dont j'ai parlé vit à Lyon

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Choose: Le professeur ___ enseigne est strict.

Correct answer: B. 'Enseigne' (teaches) has 'professeur' as subject → use 'qui' (subject).

Q2.Complete: Les amis ___ j'ai invités sont venus.

Correct answer: B. 'Inviter' (to invite) has 'amis' as object; j'ai is the subject → use 'que' (object).

Q3.Fill: La ville ___ je suis né est petite.

Correct answer: C. 'Être né' (to be born) is a location verb → use 'où' (where).

Q4.The mother ___ son is smart is proud.

Correct answer: C. 'Dont' replaces possession: 'mère dont le fils est smart' (mother whose son is smart).

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Common mistakes

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Confusing 'qui' and 'que' based on English translation. — Correct: 'Qui' = subject of relative clause; 'que' = object. 'Who' ≠ 'qui' always.

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Using 'qui' as object. — Correct: 'Qui' is subject only. For object, use 'que' or 'qu''.

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Forgetting 'où' for location. — Correct: Use 'où' for location/time in clauses: 'le jour où j'ai vu' (the day when I saw).

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Confusing 'dont' with other pronouns. — Correct: 'Dont' replaces 'de qui/duquel' — for possession and phrases with 'de'.

FAQ

What are relative pronouns in French?

Words (qui, que, où, dont) that connect dependent clauses to nouns, adding descriptive information.

How do you know which relative pronoun to use?

Check the function: subject (qui), direct object (que), location (où), possession (dont).

What is the antecedent?

The noun that the relative pronoun refers to — the word being described by the relative clause.

Can you use 'que' for location?

No — use 'où' for location: 'la maison où j'habite' not 'la maison que j'habite'.