A1 Pronouns 10 min read Easy

What... to/at (Ce à quoi)

Use ce à quoi to connect abstract thoughts to French verbs that naturally take the preposition à.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ce à quoi' when you need to say 'what' after a verb that requires the preposition 'à'.

  • Use 'ce à quoi' when the verb is followed by 'à' (e.g., penser à).
  • It acts as a bridge between two parts of a sentence.
  • It translates to 'what' or 'that which' in English.
Verb + à + [ce à quoi] + Subject + Verb

Overview

Understanding how to correctly express “what” in French is a foundational step for beginners, and it often involves distinguishing between several similar-looking structures. Among these, ce à quoi serves a specific and crucial role: it functions as an invariable relative pronoun used to refer to an abstract idea, thing, or situation that is the indirect object of a verb requiring the preposition à. You encounter ce à quoi when the English phrasing would involve “what… to/at” or “the thing to which/at which.” This construction effectively bridges two clauses, with the second clause’s verb needing à to connect to its indirect object.

Without ce à quoi, forming grammatically correct sentences that convey these precise relationships would be impossible.

The necessity of ce à quoi stems from a fundamental difference between French and English syntax regarding prepositions. In English, you can frequently end a sentence or clause with a preposition (e.g., “That’s what I’m thinking about”). French, however, strictly prohibits this.

All prepositions must precede their objects. Therefore, when an abstract “what” is the object of a verb that intrinsically pairs with à (like penser àto think about or s’intéresser àto be interested in), ce à quoi becomes the indispensable grammatical link. It prevents the preposition à from being stranded at the end of its clause, maintaining the logical flow and idiomatic correctness of the French sentence.

Mastering this structure elevates your ability to articulate complex thoughts and observations with precision, moving beyond simple direct object constructions.

How This Grammar Works

Ce à quoi operates as a compound relative pronoun, meaning it combines elements to perform the function of a single pronoun relating two parts of a sentence. Its structure, ce + à + quoi, directly reflects its grammatical role. The initial ce acts as a neutral demonstrative pronoun, standing in for an unspecified, abstract concept, idea, or an entire preceding statement—it roughly translates to “that” or “the thing.” Unlike celui, celle, ceux, or celles, ce is always singular and masculine in form but refers neutrally, making it suitable for abstract references.
This ce is crucial because it introduces the general concept that the relative clause will then specify.
Following ce is the preposition à, which is dictated by the verb in the subsequent clause. This à is not optional; it is an inherent part of the verbal construction. For instance, verbs like penser à (to think about), s’habituer à (to get used to), or répondre à (to respond to) all require à to introduce their indirect object.
Finally, quoi serves as the relative pronoun component, standing in for the abstract indirect object that the ce has introduced. Quoi is specifically used for things or ideas, never for people. This distinction is critical and helps you avoid common errors.
The combination ensures that the à precedes its pronominal object (quoi), satisfying French grammatical rules.
Consider the sentence, Je pense à mon avenir (I think about my future). If you want to say “What I think about is my future,” and refer to the abstract concept of “my future,” you cannot use ce que because penser takes à. Instead, you use ce à quoi.
The resulting structure, Ce à quoi je pense, c'est mon avenir, demonstrates how ce à quoi functions as the indirect object of penser within the relative clause. It introduces the idea (ce) to which (à) you are thinking (quoi). Because ce is invariable, ce à quoi remains constant regardless of the implicit gender or number of the abstract idea it refers to, simplifying agreement issues.
This stability is a key advantage for learners at the A1 level, as it means fewer forms to memorize and apply.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming ce à quoi is straightforward once you understand its components and their sequence. The construction is always fixed: ce + à + quoi. You append this structure directly before the subject and verb of the relative clause that requires the preposition à. It acts as the indirect object of that verb, which is why the à is mandatory. The core formula can be visualized as:
2
Ce à quoi + [subject] + [verb requiring à] + [rest of the clause, if any]
3
Let’s break down the elements:
4
Ce: This is the neutral demonstrative pronoun, meaning “that which” or “the thing that.” It refers to an unspecified, abstract concept or a prior statement. It is invariable in gender and number.
5
à: This is the preposition required by the verb in the relative clause. Its presence is non-negotiable and dictated solely by the verb’s construction.
6
quoi: This is the interrogative pronoun quoi transformed into a relative pronoun. It specifically refers to non-human entities (things, ideas, situations). It never changes form.
7
Here’s a step-by-step example for constructing a sentence using ce à quoi:
8
Identify a verb that requires à: For example, s'intéresser à (to be interested in).
9
Form a simple sentence with this verb and an abstract indirect object: Tu t'intéresses à la politique (You are interested in politics).
10
Now, form a phrase starting with “What you are interested in…”: You replace la politique (an abstract thing) with ce à quoi. The subject tu and the verb t'intéresses remain.
11
Ce à quoi tu t'intéresses, c'est la politique. (What you are interested in is politics.)
12
Consider another example with s'habituer à (to get used to):
13
Original thought: Je m'habitue à la vie parisienne (I'm getting used to Parisian life).
14
With ce à quoi: Ce à quoi je m'habitue est le rythme de la ville. (What I'm getting used to is the pace of the city.)
15
| Component | Function | Example | Notes |
16
| :-------- | :------- | :------ | :---- |
17
| Ce | Neutral antecedent | Ce à quoi | Always invariable |
18
| à | Required preposition | à quoi | Dictated by the verb |
19
| quoi | Relative pronoun (thing/idea) | quoi je pense | Never for people |
20
It is important to note that ce à quoi generally introduces a subordinate clause, often appearing at the beginning of a sentence or after a demonstrative like C'est (It is). This fixed order ensures clarity and proper grammatical function. There is no elision with quoi; quoi remains quoi even if the following word begins with a vowel or a silent h (e.g., Ce à quoi il pense, not Ce à qu'il pense).

When To Use It

You should use ce à quoi specifically when you need to refer to an abstract concept, an idea, a fact, or a general situation (rather than a specific person or concrete object) that is the indirect object of a verb requiring the preposition à. This occurs frequently with a set of common French verbs that inherently express a relationship to something. Recognizing these verbs is key to correctly applying ce à quoi.
Here are some of the most common verbs that require à and thus often trigger the use of ce à quoi:
  • penser à (to think about/of):
  • C'est ce à quoi je pense depuis ce matin. (That's what I've been thinking about since this morning.)
  • Ce à quoi nous devons réfléchir, c'est notre stratégie. (What we must reflect upon is our strategy.)
  • s'intéresser à (to be interested in):
  • Ce à quoi il s'intéresse le plus, c'est l'histoire antique. (What he's most interested in is ancient history.)
  • Explique-moi ce à quoi tu t'intéresses. (Explain to me what you're interested in.)
  • réfléchir à (to reflect on/consider):
  • Ce à quoi tu devrais vraiment réfléchir, c'est ton avenir professionnel. (What you should really reflect on is your professional future.)
  • s'attendre à (to expect):
  • C'est exactement ce à quoi je m'attendais de sa part. (That's exactly what I expected from him/her.)
  • répondre à (to respond to/answer):
  • Ce à quoi j'ai répondu était une question piège. (What I responded to was a trick question.)
  • tenir à (to be keen on/to care about):
  • Ce à quoi elle tient le plus, c'est sa liberté. (What she cares about most is her freedom.)
  • contribuer à (to contribute to):
  • Ce à quoi il veut contribuer, c'est la protection de l'environnement. (What he wants to contribute to is environmental protection.)
  • consentir à (to consent to):
  • Ce à quoi ils ont consenti n'était pas facile. (What they consented to was not easy.)
  • servir à (to be used for):
  • Je ne comprends pas ce à quoi ce bouton sert. (I don't understand what this button is for.)
Furthermore, ce à quoi is invaluable when the “what” refers to a previously mentioned idea or an entire preceding clause. For example, if someone describes a complex problem, you might respond: C'est ce à quoi je voulais en venir. (That's what I was getting at.) Here, ce à quoi refers to the entire complex problem, not a single noun. This ability to refer to broad, abstract concepts makes it a highly flexible and powerful tool for nuanced communication.
It is also common in formal and informal contexts alike, showing up in academic texts as well as casual conversations, demonstrating its utility across registers.

Common Mistakes

Learners at the A1 level frequently encounter several pitfalls when attempting to use ce à quoi, primarily due to its similarity to other relative pronouns or the influence of English sentence structure. Understanding these common errors and, crucially, why they occur will significantly improve your accuracy.
  1. 1Confusing ce à quoi with ce que: This is perhaps the most prevalent mistake. You might be tempted to use the simpler ce que because it translates to “what” and is more familiar. However, ce que is a direct object relative pronoun and is used only when the verb does not take a preposition. Ce à quoi, in contrast, is an indirect object relative pronoun specifically for verbs that demand à. For example, Ce que je mange (What I eat) uses ce que because manger is a direct object verb. But Ce à quoi je pense (What I think about) requires ce à quoi because penser takes à. Using ce que je pense would mean “the thing that I think (as an opinion),” not “the thing I am thinking about.” The subtle difference completely changes the meaning. The à is the distinguishing factor.
  1. 1Confusing ce à quoi with ce dont: Another frequent error involves ce dont. While ce à quoi refers to abstract objects of verbs taking à, ce dont refers to abstract objects of verbs taking de (e.g., avoir besoin deto need, parler deto talk about). Mixing these prepositions (à and de) will render your sentence incorrect. For instance, Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est de repos (What I need is rest) uses ce dont because avoir besoin requires de. Conversely, Ce à quoi je tiens, c'est notre amitié (What I care about is our friendship) correctly uses ce à quoi because tenir requires à. Always identify the correct preposition the verb demands before choosing between à or de constructions.
  1. 1Using qui instead of quoi: Remember, quoi is exclusively for things, ideas, or situations, never for people. If you are referring to a person, you would use qui (e.g., la personne à qui je parlethe person to whom I am speaking). Using ce à quoi when referring to a person, even abstractly, is grammatically incorrect and can sound dehumanizing. For example, Ce à qui je m'adresse is wrong if you mean

Structure of 'Ce à quoi'

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Function
Ce
à
quoi
Relative pronoun for 'à' verbs

Meanings

This structure is used to refer to an object or idea that is the target of a prepositional verb.

1

Referencing an object

Linking a verb that takes 'à' to its object.

“C'est ce à quoi il s'intéresse.”

“Je sais ce à quoi tu penses.”

Reference Table

Reference table for What... to/at (Ce à quoi)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
C'est ce à quoi...
C'est ce à quoi je pense.
Negative
Ce n'est pas ce à quoi...
Ce n'est pas ce à quoi je pense.
Question
Est-ce ce à quoi...?
Est-ce ce à quoi tu penses ?
Past
C'était ce à quoi...
C'était ce à quoi il s'attendait.
Future
Ce sera ce à quoi...
Ce sera ce à quoi nous réfléchirons.
Plural
Ce sont ce à quoi...
Ce sont ce à quoi ils s'intéressent.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
C'est ce à quoi je réfléchis.

C'est ce à quoi je réfléchis. (Expressing thoughts)

Neutral
C'est ce à quoi je pense.

C'est ce à quoi je pense. (Expressing thoughts)

Informal
C'est à ça que je pense.

C'est à ça que je pense. (Expressing thoughts)

Slang
C'est à ça que je pense, tu vois ?

C'est à ça que je pense, tu vois ? (Expressing thoughts)

The 'Ce à quoi' Bridge

Verb + à

Verbs

  • Penser à Think about
  • S'intéresser à Be interested in

Examples by Level

1

C'est ce à quoi je pense.

That's what I'm thinking about.

2

Je sais ce à quoi tu joues.

I know what you are playing.

3

Dis-moi ce à quoi tu penses.

Tell me what you are thinking about.

4

Voilà ce à quoi il s'intéresse.

That is what he is interested in.

1

Il ne sait pas ce à quoi il doit répondre.

He doesn't know what he must answer to.

2

C'est ce à quoi nous avons réfléchi.

That is what we have reflected on.

3

Tu as vu ce à quoi elle participe ?

Did you see what she is participating in?

4

Je ne comprends pas ce à quoi il tient.

I don't understand what he cares about.

1

Ce à quoi je m'attends, c'est une explication claire.

What I am expecting is a clear explanation.

2

Il a décrit ce à quoi il a été confronté.

He described what he was confronted with.

3

C'est exactement ce à quoi je m'opposais.

That is exactly what I was opposed to.

4

Elle a enfin compris ce à quoi elle s'exposait.

She finally understood what she was exposing herself to.

1

Ce à quoi nous aspirons est une paix durable.

What we aspire to is lasting peace.

2

Il est difficile de définir ce à quoi cela correspond.

It is difficult to define what that corresponds to.

3

C'est ce à quoi tout le monde s'attendait.

That is what everyone was expecting.

4

Il faut considérer ce à quoi cela peut mener.

One must consider what that can lead to.

1

Ce à quoi il faut prêter attention, c'est la nuance.

What one must pay attention to is the nuance.

2

Elle a illustré ce à quoi elle faisait allusion.

She illustrated what she was alluding to.

3

Ce à quoi nous sommes parvenus est remarquable.

What we have arrived at is remarkable.

4

Il a remis en question ce à quoi il croyait.

He questioned what he believed in.

1

Ce à quoi le poète nous convie est une odyssée.

What the poet invites us to is an odyssey.

2

Il a su cerner ce à quoi le public était sensible.

He knew how to identify what the public was sensitive to.

3

Ce à quoi il s'est adonné est purement artistique.

What he has devoted himself to is purely artistic.

4

C'est ce à quoi le traité fait explicitement référence.

That is what the treaty explicitly refers to.

Easily Confused

What... to/at (Ce à quoi) vs Ce que

Learners use 'ce que' for everything.

What... to/at (Ce à quoi) vs Ce dont

Learners mix up 'à' and 'de'.

What... to/at (Ce à quoi) vs Quoi

Learners use 'quoi' alone.

Common Mistakes

C'est ce que je pense.

C'est ce à quoi je pense.

Penser takes 'à'.

Il s'intéresse ce que je fais.

Il s'intéresse à ce que je fais.

Missing the preposition.

Je sais ce à quoi il mange.

Je sais ce qu'il mange.

Manger doesn't take 'à'.

C'est ce à quoi je vois.

C'est ce que je vois.

Voir is a direct object verb.

Il réfléchit ce à quoi.

Il réfléchit à ce à quoi...

Missing the verb.

C'est ce dont je pense.

C'est ce à quoi je pense.

Penser takes 'à', not 'de'.

Ce à quoi il veut.

Ce à quoi il aspire.

Vouloir is direct.

Ce à quoi je m'attends est difficile.

Ce à quoi je m'attends, c'est difficile.

Need a comma for emphasis.

Il a oublié ce à quoi il a parlé.

Il a oublié ce dont il a parlé.

Parler de.

C'est ce à quoi je suis habitué.

C'est ce à quoi je suis habitué.

Correct, but check agreement.

Ce à quoi il fait référence est faux.

Ce à quoi il fait référence est faux.

Correct, but check register.

Il a ignoré ce à quoi il devait se soumettre.

Il a ignoré ce à quoi il devait se soumettre.

Correct.

Ce à quoi il a abouti.

Ce à quoi il a abouti.

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

C'est ___ je pense.

Il s'intéresse à ___ il participe.

___ je m'attends, c'est une réponse.

Il réfléchit à ___ il doit faire.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Tu sais ce à quoi je pense ?

Job Interview common

C'est ce à quoi nous aspirons.

Social Media common

Voilà ce à quoi je m'intéresse.

Travel occasional

C'est ce à quoi je m'attendais.

Food Delivery occasional

C'est ce à quoi je pensais pour le dîner.

Academic Writing very common

Ce à quoi le texte fait référence.

💡

Check the verb

Always check if your verb is followed by 'à' in the dictionary.
⚠️

Don't drop the à

Missing the 'à' changes the meaning entirely.
🎯

Use it for emphasis

You can start a sentence with 'Ce à quoi...' to emphasize the topic.
💬

Keep it natural

In casual speech, people might use 'à ça que' instead.

Smart Tips

Use 'ce à quoi' instead of 'ce que'.

Je pense ce que tu dis. Je pense à ce que tu dis.

Check if you can say 'penser à quelque chose'.

Je pense quelque chose. Je pense à quelque chose.

Use 'ce à quoi' to connect complex ideas.

C'est le projet. Je réfléchis à ça. C'est le projet à ce à quoi je réfléchis.

Focus on the 'à' sound.

Je sais ce que tu penses. Je sais ce à quoi tu penses.

Pronunciation

ce-a-kwa

Liaison

The 'à' often links to the next word if it starts with a vowel.

Rising at the end

C'est ce à quoi tu penses ?

Questioning tone

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'à' as a hook. If the verb has a hook, you need 'ce à quoi' to catch it.

Visual Association

Imagine a fisherman (the verb) holding a rod with a hook ('à'). He catches a fish ('quoi'). The whole setup is 'ce à quoi'.

Rhyme

If the verb has an 'à', don't be shy, use 'ce à quoi' to say 'what' and fly!

Story

Pierre is thinking about his cat. He says, 'C'est ce à quoi je pense.' His friend asks, 'What?' Pierre replies, 'My cat!' The 'à' is the bridge between his thought and the cat.

Word Web

PenserS'intéresserRéfléchirS'attendreTenirParticiper

Challenge

Write 3 sentences today using 'penser à', 's'intéresser à', and 's'attendre à' with 'ce à quoi'.

Cultural Notes

Used frequently in academic and professional settings to show precision.

Similar usage, though sometimes replaced by 'à ça que' in very casual speech.

Standard French usage, very common in formal correspondence.

Derived from the Latin 'quid' (what) combined with the preposition 'ad' (to).

Conversation Starters

À quoi penses-tu en ce moment ?

Qu'est-ce qui t'intéresse le plus ?

À quoi t'attends-tu pour l'année prochaine ?

À quoi réfléchis-tu pour ton futur projet ?

Journal Prompts

Write about what you are thinking about today.
Describe a hobby you are interested in.
Reflect on a challenge you faced.
Discuss your future aspirations.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence.

Je pense ___ je veux.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Penser takes 'à'.
Pick the right one. Multiple Choice

C'est ___ il s'intéresse.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
S'intéresser takes 'à'.
Find the mistake. Error Correction

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.
Transform to 'ce à quoi'. Sentence Transformation

Je pense à mon projet. -> C'est...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi je pense.
Correct structure.
Match the verb to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Penser à.
Order the words. Sentence Building

je / ce à quoi / pense / c'est

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce à quoi je pense.
Correct order.
Pick the right one. Multiple Choice

___ nous aspirons est grand.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi
Aspirer à.
Complete the sentence.

Il s'attend ___ il a vu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
S'attendre à.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Complete the sentence.

Je pense ___ je veux.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Penser takes 'à'.
Pick the right one. Multiple Choice

C'est ___ il s'intéresse.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
S'intéresser takes 'à'.
Find the mistake. Error Correction

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.
Transform to 'ce à quoi'. Sentence Transformation

Je pense à mon projet. -> C'est...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi je pense.
Correct structure.
Match the verb to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Penser -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Penser à.
Order the words. Sentence Building

je / ce à quoi / pense / c'est

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce à quoi je pense.
Correct order.
Pick the right one. Multiple Choice

___ nous aspirons est grand.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi
Aspirer à.
Complete the sentence.

Il s'attend ___ il a vu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
S'attendre à.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Je ne sais pas ___ il fait allusion.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Fix the pronoun error. Error Correction

Ce que je réfléchis est compliqué.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi je réfléchis est compliqué.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

quoi / ce / pense / c'est / je / à

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce à quoi je pense
Translate to French. Translation

What he is reacting to is funny.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi il réagit est drôle.
Select the right pronoun. Multiple Choice

___ je tiens, c'est ma liberté.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi
Match the verb with its pronoun type. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: penser à -> ce à quoi, regarder -> ce que, parler de -> ce dont, aider -> ce que
Complete the caption. Fill in the Blank

Voilà ___ ressemble mon chat à 3h du matin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ce à quoi
Identify the correct usage. Multiple Choice

In which context would you use 'ce à quoi'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Talking about a situation you are thinking about.
Correct the pronoun. Error Correction

C'est ce que je réponds.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce à quoi je réponds.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

s'intéresse / ce / elle / à / quoi / est / l'art

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce à quoi elle s'intéresse est l'art

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Only if the verb doesn't take 'à'.

It's standard, but 'à ça que' is more casual.

No, it's invariable.

Use 'ce dont'.

Yes, for emphasis.

Very common in daily life.

Because the verb requires it.

Yes, it's perfect for writing.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

a lo que

Spanish uses 'lo' instead of 'ce'.

German moderate

woran

German attaches the preposition to the 'wo' prefix.

English partial

what... to

French requires the preposition before the pronoun.

Japanese low

no koto

Japanese doesn't have a direct prepositional relative pronoun.

Arabic low

ma

Arabic prepositions are prefixes.

Chinese low

de

Chinese grammar is word-order based.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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