A1 · Beginner Chapter 14

Expressing 'What' and Using Prepositions

7 Total Rules
72 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting your thoughts using 'what' and 'which' in French.

  • Identify when to use 'ce qui' versus 'ce que'.
  • Connect verbs requiring prepositions using 'ce dont' and 'ce à quoi'.
  • Select the correct pronoun 'lequel' to specify objects or people.
Connect your world with confidence!

What You'll Learn

Ready to level up your French? This chapter is all about unlocking the power of 'what' and 'which' in French, making your sentences flow like a native speaker! Forget simple statements – by the end of this, you'll be able to express complex ideas and connect your thoughts smoothly. Ever wanted to say 'What I want is...' or ask 'The thing you're talking about, what is it?' You'll master ce qui and ce que to effortlessly handle 'what' as a subject or direct object. We'll then dive into how to use ce dont and ce à quoi – don't worry, they sound scarier than they are! These gems will let you link 'what' with verbs that need prepositions like 'de' or 'à', opening up a whole new world of expression. And for those tricky 'which' questions after prepositions, like 'To which friend are you speaking?', you'll conquer lequel and laquelle, making sure your pronouns perfectly match gender and number. We’ll even tackle the neat little 'smushed' pronouns like auquel and duquel. Imagine chatting with a French friend, describing something interesting you saw, or asking for clarification on 'which one' they prefer. You'll move beyond basic phrases and start building truly rich, connected sentences. This might seem like a big step, but trust us, it’s totally achievable and super exciting. Let's make your French shine!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'ce qui' and 'ce que' to describe actions and states.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Form complex sentences using 'ce dont' and 'ce à quoi'.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to an exciting chapter in your French grammar A1 journey! This guide is designed to help you move beyond basic sentences and truly connect your thoughts in French. We're diving deep into the world of "what" and "which," essential tools for any learner aiming for fluency. Understanding these structures is a game-changer for expressing more complex ideas and asking nuanced questions, making your conversations much richer.
At the CEFR A1 level, you're building foundational skills, and mastering these concepts will significantly boost your confidence and comprehension. By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to effortlessly use French relative pronouns like ce qui and ce que to talk about 'what' you want or see, and navigate the trickier ce dont and ce à quoi for 'what' combined with prepositions.
You'll also conquer lequel and laquelle to ask "which one?" after prepositions, ensuring your questions are always grammatically perfect. This might seem like a big step, but with our clear explanations and examples, you'll find these French grammar patterns are not only achievable but incredibly rewarding. Get ready to unlock new levels of expression and make your French shine!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the mechanics of expressing 'what' and 'which' in French. First up, we have Ce qui and Ce que. Ce qui means "what" or "the thing that" when it's the subject of the clause. For instance, Ce qui est important, c'est l'amour (What is important is love). If "what" is the direct object, you'll use Ce que. For example, Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux (I don't know what you want). These two are fundamental for talking about abstract "whats."
Moving on to more complex connections, we introduce Ce dont and Ce à quoi. When a verb requires the preposition de (like *parler de*, *avoir besoin de*), and you want to say "what...about," you use Ce dont. For example, Voilà ce dont j'ai besoin (Here is what I need). Similarly, if a verb needs the preposition à (like *penser à*, *réfléchir à*), you'll use Ce à quoi for "what...to/at." For instance, C'est ce à quoi je pense (That's what I'm thinking about).
Finally, we tackle "which one" after prepositions with Lequel/Laquelle. These are interrogative pronouns that change based on the gender and number of the noun they refer to: lequel (masculine singular), laquelle (feminine singular), lesquels (masculine plural), lesquelles (feminine plural). When combined with prepositions à or de, they contract: à + lequel = auquel, à + laquelle = à laquelle, de + lequel = duquel, de + laquelle = de laquelle. For example, À laquelle de ces robes penses-tu ? (Which of these dresses are you thinking about?). Mastering these forms is key to asking precise questions in French.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Je ne comprends pas ce qui tu dis."
✓ Correct: "Je ne comprends pas ce que tu dis."
*Explanation:* Ce qui is used when "what" is the subject of the following verb. In "tu dis," "tu" is the subject, and "ce" is the direct object. Therefore, ce que is correct.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "C'est ce que j'ai besoin."
✓ Correct: "C'est ce dont j'ai besoin."
*Explanation:* The verb "avoir besoin" (to need) always takes the preposition de (avoir besoin de quelque chose). When referring to "what" you need, you must use ce dont to incorporate that "de."
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Avec lequel fille vas-tu au cinéma ?"
✓ Correct: "Avec quelle fille vas-tu au cinéma ?" (or "Avec laquelle vas-tu au cinéma ?" if the noun "fille" is already known)
*Explanation:* Lequel/Laquelle are pronouns meaning "which one." When used *before* a noun, you typically use the interrogative adjective quel/quelle/quels/quelles. If the noun is omitted or understood from context, then lequel/laquelle is correct.

Real Conversations

A

A

Qu'est-ce que tu regardes ? (What are you watching?)
B

B

C'est un film. Ce que j'aime, c'est l'histoire. (It's a movie. What I like is the story.)
A

A

J'ai besoin de nouvelles chaussures. (I need new shoes.)
B

B

Ah, je comprends ce dont tu parles ! (Oh, I understand what you're talking about!)
A

A

Tu as plusieurs amis. À laquelle de tes amies as-tu parlé ? (You have several friends. To which of your friends did you speak?)
B

B

J'ai parlé à Marie. (I spoke to Marie.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know whether to use ce qui or ce que in French?

Use ce qui when "what" is the subject of the verb that follows it (e.g., *Ce qui est important...*). Use ce que when "what" is the direct object of the verb that follows it (e.g., *Ce que tu dis...*). Think of qui for 'who/which (subject)' and que for 'whom/which (object)'.

Q

Are ce dont and ce à quoi really common in everyday French?

Yes, absolutely! While they might seem a bit advanced for A1 French, they are very common in spoken and written French. Mastering them helps you sound much more natural and express complex ideas smoothly, especially when verbs require specific prepositions.

Q

Can I use quel instead of lequel?

Yes, but they have different roles. Quel/quelle/quels/quelles are interrogative adjectives used *before* a noun (e.g., *Quelle couleur aimes-tu?* - Which color do you like?). Lequel/laquelle/lesquels/lesquelles are interrogative pronouns used *in place of* a noun, often after a preposition (e.g., *Parmi ces couleurs, laquelle aimes-tu?* - Among these colors, which one do you like?).

Cultural Context

These structures are fundamental for nuanced communication in French. Native speakers use ce qui, ce que, ce dont, and ce à quoi constantly to connect ideas, express opinions, and describe abstract concepts. They are not formal or rare; they are the glue that holds many everyday conversations together. Mastering lequel and its variations allows for precise questioning, avoiding ambiguity when referring to specific items or people. Integrating these patterns will make your French sound much more natural and sophisticated, allowing you to participate more fully in French discourse.

Key Examples (8)

1

Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est l'intelligence artificielle.

What interests me is artificial intelligence.

The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)
2

Regarde ce qui est écrit sur ce post Instagram.

Look at what is written on this Instagram post.

The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)
3

Ce que j'aime à Paris, c'est le café.

What I love about Paris is the coffee.

French Pronouns: What / The thing that (Ce que)
4

Dis-moi ce que tu veux manger ce soir.

Tell me what you want to eat tonight.

French Pronouns: What / The thing that (Ce que)
5

Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la mode.

What interests me is fashion.

French 'What': Using ce qui and ce que
6

Je ne comprends pas ce que tu dis.

I don't understand what you are saying.

French 'What': Using ce qui and ce que
7

Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est un café très fort.

What I need is a very strong coffee.

French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)
8

C'est exactement ce dont je te parlais hier !

That's exactly what I was telling you about yesterday!

French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The Verb Test

If you see a verb right after the pronoun, use 'ce qui'. If you see a subject, use 'ce que'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)
💡

The 'Subject' Test

If you can replace the pronoun with 'the thing that', you are likely using a relative pronoun.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Pronouns: What / The thing that (Ce que)
💡

The Verb Test

If you see a verb, use 'qui'. If you see a subject, use 'que'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French 'What': Using ce qui and ce que
💡

The 'De' Test

Ask yourself: 'Does this verb need 'de'?' If yes, use 'dont'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)

Key Vocabulary (6)

ce qui what (subject) ce que what (object) ce dont what... of/about ce à quoi what... to/at lequel which one (masc.) auquel to which (masc. singular)

Real-World Preview

gift

Choosing a gift

Review Summary

  • Ce qui + verbe
  • Ce que + sujet + verbe
  • Ce dont + sujet + verbe (de)
  • Ce à quoi + sujet + verbe (à)

Common Mistakes

You used 'ce que' instead of 'ce qui'. Because 'what' is the subject of 'est', you must use 'ce qui'.

Wrong: Ce que est bon.
Correct: Ce qui est bon.

You misplaced the pronoun. 'Dont' must follow the noun it relates to.

Wrong: Ce dont j'ai besoin le livre.
Correct: Le livre dont j'ai besoin.

You missed the 'ce' prefix. 'Ce à quoi' is required to start the relative clause.

Wrong: À quoi je pense est la fête.
Correct: Ce à quoi je pense, c'est la fête.

Next Steps

You've worked hard and mastered some of the most powerful tools in French grammar. Keep practicing!

Write 5 sentences about your day using 'ce qui' and 'ce que'.

Continue to: Replacing Nouns with Object Pronouns

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank with 'ce qui' or 'ce que'.

Je ne sais pas ___ se passe.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce qui
Followed by a verb, so use 'ce qui'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)

Find the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il réfléchit ce que je dis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il réfléchit à ce que je dis.
Réfléchir à.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: What... to/at (Ce à quoi)

Fill in the blank.

La chaise sur ___ je m'assieds est confortable.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: laquelle
Chaise is feminine singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronouns after Prepositions (Lequel/Laquelle)

Fill in the blank.

Le projet ___ je pense est difficile.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: auquel
Penser à.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Pronouns: Which One? (auquel, duquel)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce dont il a peur.
Avoir peur needs 'de'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ce que mange est bon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce que je mange est bon.
Needs a subject.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Pronouns: What / The thing that (Ce que)

Fill in the blank.

Je sais ___ tu veux.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce que
Subject follows.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French 'What': Using ce qui and ce que

Fill in the blank.

___ me plaît, c'est le voyage.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce qui
Subject position.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)

Fill in the blank with 'ce que' or 'ce dont'.

J'aime ___ tu fais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce que
Aimer is a direct object verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)

Fill in the blank with 'ce que' or 'ce dont'.

J'ai besoin de ___ tu parles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce dont
Parler requires 'de'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: What...about (Ce dont)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, it is very common: 'Ce qui est bien, c'est...'
Yes, that is the primary rule.
Yes, e.g., 'Ce que je veux, c'est du café.'
No, it is neutral.
No, 'quoi' is only for questions or after prepositions.
No, it is neutral.
Previous Chapter
Using 'Dont' to Show Relationships
Next Chapter
Replacing Nouns with Object Pronouns
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