What level is Interrogative Adjectives & Pronouns (quel, lequel)?

This lesson is designed for A2 learners and can still help a learner revising the topic at another level.

Can I open the interactive lesson?

Yes. Use the lesson button to practise the topic with interactive exercises and progress tracking.

French Grammar

Interrogative Adjectives & Pronouns (quel, lequel)

Specifying target options within queries using the interrogative adjective quel and the interrogative pronoun lequel, with full gender and number agreement.

Level A2 Category Grammar

Start Interactive Lesson

Lesson Summary

Specifying target options within queries using the interrogative adjective quel and the interrogative pronoun lequel, with full gender and number agreement.

Grammar

Asking “Which?”

The interrogative structures Qu’est‑ce que… and Est‑ce que… are used to form yes/no and open questions (see yes/no questions via intonation and questions with est‑ce que). To ask “which” or “what” before a noun, the interrogative adjective quel is employed. To ask “which one” and replace a noun entirely, the interrogative pronoun lequel is used.

Interrogative Adjective: Quel

Form	Used with	Example
quel	masculine singular noun	Quel livre lis‑tu ?
quelle	feminine singular noun	Quelle robe préfères‑tu ?
quels	masculine plural noun	Quels amis invites‑tu ?
quelles	feminine plural noun	Quelles chansons écoutes‑tu ?

Usage of Quel

The interrogative adjective quel agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It can appear in the following question patterns:
- With est‑ce que: Quel livre est‑ce que tu lis ?
- With subject‑verb inversion: Quel livre lis‑tu ?
- With intonation (informal): Tu lis quel livre ?

Quel is also used in exclamations to express intensity: Quelle belle journée ! (What a beautiful day!).

Interrogative Pronoun: Lequel

Form	Meaning	Example
lequel	which one (masculine singular)	Lequel de ces livres veux‑tu ?
laquelle	which one (feminine singular)	Laquelle de ces chaises est la tienne ?
lesquels	which ones (masculine plural)	Lesquels de tes amis viennent ?
lesquelles	which ones (feminine plural)	Lesquelles de ces photos préfères‑tu ?

Usage of Lequel

The interrogative pronoun lequel stands in place of a noun that has already been mentioned or is implied. It is frequently followed by de to specify a set of options.

- Voici deux stylos. Lequel veux‑tu ?
- J’ai trois jupes. Laquelle vas‑tu porter ?

When lequel is preceded by the prepositions à or de, contracted forms appear: auquel (à + lequel), duquel (de + lequel), auxquels, auxquelles. These contractions follow the same logic as those of the definite article (see cardinal prepositions). A more detailed study of these forms will be taken up at the B1 level.

Examples

Quel film veux-tu voir ? Il y a deux films au cinéma. Lequel préfères-tu ?
The adjective Quel modifies film; the pronoun Lequel replaces it to ask for a choice.
Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire ?
The common pattern Quel(le) + être + subject requests a specification.

Related searches

These are the main phrases this lesson covers:

Interrogative Adjectives & Pronouns (quel, lequel)Specifying target options within queries using the interrogative adjective quel and the interrogative pronoun lequel, with full gender and number agreement.Form questions that ask “which” or “which one” by selecting the correct form of quel or lequel based on the noun they replace or modify.GrammarA2grammarLearn French GrammarFrench GrammarAsking “Which?”The interrogative structures Qu’est‑ce que… and Est‑ce que… are used to form yes/no and open questions (see yes/no questions via intonation and questions with est‑ce que). To ask “which” or “what” before a noun, the interrogative adjective quel is employed. To ask “which one” and replace a noun entirely, the interrogative pronoun lequel is used.