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French Grammar

Relative Pronouns: Introduction to "Qui"

Using the relative pronoun qui to link two sentences by replacing a shared subject and forming a dependent clause.

Level A2 Category Grammar

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Lesson Summary

Using the relative pronoun qui to link two sentences by replacing a shared subject and forming a dependent clause.

Grammar

Linking Sentences with a Subject Relative Pronoun

The relative pronoun qui connects two clauses that share the same subject. It replaces the subject of the second clause and corresponds to English ‘who’, ‘which’, or ‘that’. This structure allows the combination of separate statements into a single, more elaborate sentence.

Function of Qui

Two Sentences	Combined with Qui
J’ai un ami. Il habite à Lyon.	J’ai un ami qui habite à Lyon.
Je regarde un film. Ce film est intéressant.	Je regarde un film qui est intéressant.
Nous connaissons une pharmacie. Elle est ouverte le dimanche.	Nous connaissons une pharmacie qui est ouverte le dimanche.

Verb Agreement After Qui

Qui is immediately followed by a verb whose subject is the noun that qui replaces. The verb agrees in person and number with that antecedent.

- Le chien qui joue dans le jardin est à moi. (joue is third‑person singular, agreeing with le chien)
- Les étudiants qui apprennent le français sont motivés. (apprennent is third‑person plural, agreeing with les étudiants)

Qui may refer to persons, animals, or things. The relative clause is placed directly after the noun it modifies.

Other Uses of Qui (Preview)

The word qui also functions as an interrogative pronoun meaning ‘who’ in questions such as Qui parle ? (Who is speaking?) and Qui est-ce ? (Who is it?). This interrogative use is distinct from the relative pronoun but shares the same form.

Examples

Je connais un médecin qui parle trois langues.
The relative clause qui parle trois langues modifies un médecin.
Il y a un parc près d'ici qui est très calme.
Qui represents un parc as the subject of est.

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Relative Pronouns: Introduction to "Qui"Using the relative pronoun qui to link two sentences by replacing a shared subject and forming a dependent clause.Combine simple sentences into complex structures by inserting qui as the subject of the second clause.GrammarA2grammarLearn French GrammarFrench GrammarLinking Sentences with a Subject Relative PronounThe relative pronoun qui connects two clauses that share the same subject. It replaces the subject of the second clause and corresponds to English ‘who’, ‘which’, or ‘that’. This structure allows the combination of separate statements into a single, more elaborate sentence.