How to choose qui, que, où or dont: rebuild the short sentence

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose a French relative pronoun by rebuilding the sentence behind it. Compare qui, que, où, dont and preposition + lequel, then try four questions.

B1Practical guide3 min readIn the B1 notebook →

In short

Restore the repeated noun in a short French sentence. If it is the subject, choose qui; a direct object, que; a place or time, often où; a complement introduced by de, often dont. For longer prepositions, keep the whole phrase: près duquel, dans laquelle.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

A quiet French rehearsal room with a plain upright piano and bench, no branding sheet music or writing.
Find une salle qui possède un piano. Illustration: Atelier

How do you choose qui, que, où or dont?

Start with Je cherche une salle. The noun stays the same in every row below. Its job in the second sentence changes, so the relative changes too. Read the middle column aloud before looking at the joined phrase.

Restore the noun before choosing the relative
RoleShort sentenceJoined phrase
Subject: the room has a pianoCette salle possède un piano.une salle qui possède un piano
Direct object: you book the roomTu réserves cette salle.la salle que tu réserves
Place: we work thereNous travaillons dans cette salle.la salle où nous travaillons
Topic introduced by deNous parlons de cette salle.la salle dont nous parlons

Je cherche une salle qui possède un piano.

I’m looking for a room that has a piano.

The room is the subject of possède. Qui can refer to a thing as well as a person.

La salle que tu as réservée possède un piano.

The room you booked has a piano.

Tu is the subject of as réservée. The earlier direct object, la salle, gives the participle its feminine ending: réservée.

Which relative pronoun follows a preposition?

Read the preposition as part of the phrase
Rebuilt phraseRelative phraseWhat to keep
Je parle de ce livre.le livre dont je parleThe topic after de
Je pense à ce projet.le projet auquel je penseÀ + lequel becomes auquel
Je travaille dans ce bureau.le bureau dans lequel je travailleDans stays before lequel
J’habite près de ce parc.le parc près duquel j’habiteKeep près de together

Lequel agrees with the noun: le bureau dans lequel, la salle dans laquelle, les bureaux dans lesquels, les salles dans lesquelles. With à or de, some forms contract: auquel, duquel, auxquels, desquels. A person can also take qui after a preposition: la collègue avec qui je travaille.

Check elision and repeated pronouns

  • La salle qu’a un piano est libre.La salle qui a un piano est libre.

    Subject qui keeps its full form before a vowel.

  • Le livre que elle recommande est court.Le livre qu’elle recommande est court.

    Direct-object que becomes qu’ before elle.

  • Le livre dont j’en parle est court.Le livre dont je parle est court.

    Dont already replaces de ce livre. Remove the duplicate en.

Before you join two sentences

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
The flat overlooks the garden. Choose the subject relative.Je cherche un appartement ___ donne sur le jardin.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

qui. Rebuild cet appartement donne sur le jardin. The flat is the subject, so use qui.

Question 2No account needed
Rebuild nous avons visité cette maison.Voici la maison ___ nous avons visitée.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

que. The house is the direct object of avons visitée. Choose que; visitée agrees with la maison.

Question 3No account needed
Rebuild je parle de ce film.C’est le film ___ je parle.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

dont. Parler de ce film gives le film dont je parle. The construction includes de.

Question 4No account needed
Rebuild nous avons signé le bail ce jour-là.C’est le jour ___ nous avons signé le bail.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

où. Ce jour-là supplies the time. Relative où can introduce a moment as well as a place.

Keep going