French Grammar
Relative Pronouns: Introduction to "Que"
Linking sentences by transforming a shared direct object into the relative pronoun que.
Start Interactive LessonLesson Summary
Linking sentences by transforming a shared direct object into the relative pronoun que.
Grammar
From Subject to Direct Object
The relative pronoun qui (see relative pronouns: qui) replaces the subject of a second clause. The pronoun que (which contracts to qu’ before a vowel or silent h) replaces the direct object. It too corresponds to English ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘which’, or ‘that’.
Qui vs. Que
| Function | Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject (who/which + verb) | qui | Je vois un homme. Il porte un chapeau. → Je vois un homme qui porte un chapeau. |
| Direct object (whom/which + subject + verb) | que (qu’) | Je regarde un film. Tu as recommandé ce film. → Je regarde un film que tu as recommandé. |
Structure After Que
Que is immediately followed by a subject (which may be a noun or a pronoun) and then a conjugated verb. The subject–verb order is that of a normal declarative sentence.
- La robe que j’ai achetée est rouge.
- Le livre qu’il lit est intéressant.
When the verb of the relative clause is in the passé composé, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the antecedent if that antecedent is the direct object and is placed before the verb. This agreement is visible in sentences such as Voici les clés que j’ai perdues. (feminine plural agreement). A full treatment of past participle agreement will be given in a later lesson.
Examples
- La personne que tu as rencontrée est ma cousine.Que replaces the direct object la personne; the past participle rencontrée agrees in the feminine singular.
- Le gâteau qu'il a préparé est délicieux.Qu’ before a vowel; préparé is masculine singular, agreeing with le gâteau.
Related searches
These are the main phrases this lesson covers: