Lequel · reading reference
1 · 1 · Find the noun before the relative
Agreement follows the noun being described. A later noun cannot change that link.
La série pour laquelle ce réalisateur travaille est courte.The series this director works for is short.
2 · 2 · Keep the preposition’s meaning
Read the preposition and pronoun together. Rebuild a short sentence if the link is hard to see.
| dans lequel | in which |
| pour laquelle | for which |
| avec lesquels | with whom / with which |
C’est le film dans lequel elle joue.It is the film she appears in.
3 · 3 · With people, qui is another useful choice
After ordinary prepositions such as avec and pour, a person can also be represented by qui.
Les acteurs avec qui elle travaille sont belges.The actors she works with are Belgian.
Les acteurs avec lesquels elle travaille sont belges.The actors she works with are Belgian.
4 · 4 · Recognise contractions with à and de
The feminine singular stays separate. The masculine singular and both plurals contract.
| auquel / à laquelle / auxquels / auxquelles | à + the four forms |
| duquel / de laquelle / desquels / desquelles | de + the four forms |
C’est le festival auquel elle participe.It is the festival she is taking part in.
5 · 5 · Keep qui, que and dont for their own jobs
A direct object takes que. A plain de relationship commonly takes dont. A longer preposition such as au sujet de stays together.
Le film que je recommande dure deux heures.The film I recommend lasts two hours.
Le film dont je parle dure deux heures.The film I am talking about lasts two hours.
Le film au sujet duquel nous débattons dure deux heures.The film we are debating lasts two hours.