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Grammar
Objective: Use ce dont to replace a de-complement in an indefinite relative clause, and distinguish it from ce qui and ce que.
| Role in the clause | Form | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| subject of the verb | ce qui | Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est l'histoire. | What interests me is history. |
| direct object of the verb | ce que | Ce que je préfère, c'est le café. | What I prefer is coffee. |
| complement of de | ce dont | Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est de repos. | What I need is rest. |
| complement of de in a question | ce dont | Je ne sais pas ce dont il parle. | I do not know what he is talking about. |
| with a reflexive verb and de | ce dont | Ce dont il s'occupe est important. | What he is handling is important. |
Avoir besoin de takes the preposition de, so the indefinite relative is ce dont. Ce que only replaces a direct object.
Ce dont already contains the relative pronoun. Adding que after it duplicates the relative link and is never correct.
Avoir besoin de takes the preposition de, so the indefinite relative is ce dont. The identification after c'est repeats the preposition before the noun.
Parler de takes the preposition de, and the relative pronoun absorbs it. The de after c'est introduces the specific topic.
Avoir peur de uses de, and the identification names the source of the fear. The preposition elides before the vowel-initial échec, producing de l'échec.
The indirect question uses ce dont because the missing element is the de-complement of parle.
S'occuper de takes the preposition de, so the indefinite relative is ce dont. The reflexive verb keeps its reflexive pronoun.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
Dont already absorbs the preposition de, so a second de or a stressed pronoun such as lui would be redundant.
S'occuper de takes the preposition de, and ce dont replaces the whole de-complement. A second object after the verb duplicates the meaning.
Se souvenir de uses de, and the identification after c'est reintroduces the preposition before the time reference.
Avoir envie de takes de, and the imperative introduces the indirect question. The subject tu appears between ce dont and the verb phrase.
Être fier de takes de, and the identification after c'est repeats the preposition before the noun.