The 'What' as a Subject (Ce qui)
ce qui as the subject pronoun for 'what' when it is immediately followed by a verb.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'ce qui' when you want to say 'what' as the subject of a verb in a relative clause.
- Use 'ce qui' when the 'what' performs the action: Ce qui est drôle, c'est ça.
- Never use 'ce qui' if you have a specific noun antecedent; use 'qui' instead.
- Always follow 'ce qui' with a verb: Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est le sport.
Overview
The concept of "what" as a subject is foundational in French, necessitating the use of ce qui. Unlike English, where "what" can function as both subject and object without morphological change, French distinguishes these roles rigidly. This distinction is critical for clarity and grammatical correctness, especially when the "what" refers to an unspecified idea, situation, or action that performs the verb's action.
Mastering ce qui elevates your French beyond direct translation, allowing you to articulate complex thoughts and observations with native precision. It allows you to transform abstract concepts into the active agents of your sentences.
French relative pronouns, including ce qui, serve to link clauses and provide information about an antecedent. In the case of ce qui, the antecedent is an unspecified idea or phenomenon. This compound relative pronoun acts as the subject of the subordinate clause it introduces.
Its invariant form underscores a key principle in French grammar: structural clarity over gender or number agreement for indefinite referents. For A1 learners, understanding this core function—that ce qui does the action—is the primary hurdle. It contrasts sharply with English flexibility, requiring a recalibration of how you perceive sentence structure.
This grammatical construction is indispensable for expressing observations, summarizing situations, or commenting on events without explicitly naming the subject. For instance, in Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est l'histoire, the phrase ce qui m'intéresse functions as the subject of the main clause, representing the collective idea of "what interests me." This structure allows for a nuanced expression of thought, making it a cornerstone of sophisticated French communication from the earliest stages of learning. You'll encounter ce qui frequently in both written and spoken French, from news reports to casual conversation, solidifying its importance.
How This Grammar Works
ce qui lies in its dual function: it is both a neuter demonstrative pronoun (ce) and a relative pronoun (qui). Together, they form an inseparable unit that functions exclusively as the subject of a subordinate clause. The ce component refers to an indefinite idea, fact, or situation, essentially meaning "that which" or "the thing that." The qui component then acts as the subject pronoun for that indefinite antecedent, governing the verb that follows it.Ce qui est difficile, c'est la grammaire. Here, ce qui is the subject of est difficile. The verb est (from être) is conjugated in the third person singular, agreeing with the singular, neuter nature of ce qui.ce qui must be immediately followed by a conjugated verb. This direct link signifies its role as the subject. You will not find a noun or another pronoun directly after ce qui that acts as the subject of the verb it introduces.ce qui is followed by a verb preceded by an object pronoun (e.g., Ce qui m'étonne), the object pronoun (m') still comes between qui and the verb (étonne), maintaining qui as the grammatical subject. This strict adjacency rule is a crucial diagnostic for correct usage.qui alone. When qui is used, it refers to a specific noun or pronoun that has already been mentioned (its antecedent). For example, L'homme qui parle (The man who is speaking).qui refers back to L'homme. With ce qui, there is no specific noun antecedent; the ce provides the indefinite reference. This distinction highlights ce qui's role in introducing clauses about unknown or abstract entities, solidifying its place as the subject of an unspecified "what."Formation Pattern
ce qui follows a precise and invariable pattern. This rigidity is a hallmark of its function as a compound relative pronoun acting as a subject. You always begin with ce, followed by qui, and then directly by the verb that ce qui is the subject of. The verb will invariably be conjugated in the third person singular. This consistency simplifies its application once the core structure is memorized.
Ce | Demonstrative pronoun (indefinite) | Ce qui |
qui | Relative pronoun (subject) | Ce qui |
ce qui | Ce qui est important |
ce qui is always conjugated in the third person singular (e.g., est, fait, arrive, se passe). This is because ce qui collectively represents a singular, neuter idea.
Ce qui arrive est surprenant. (What is happening is surprising.)
Ce qui compte, c'est ton opinion. (What counts is your opinion.)
ce qui still acts as the singular subject. The auxiliary verb (avoir or être) will be in the third person singular, and the past participle agreement will typically be masculine singular, though often left invariable when the antecedent is truly neuter/abstract.
Ce qui s'est passé était bizarre. (What happened was strange.) - Here se passer uses être as its auxiliary.
Ce qui a été dit n'est pas clair. (What was said is not clear.)
me, te, le, la, nous, vous, les, lui, leur), this pronoun is placed between qui and the conjugated verb. This follows the standard French rule for object pronoun placement with a verb.
Ce qui + V | Ce qui est vrai. | What is true. |
Ce qui + OP + V | Ce qui m'intéresse. | What interests me. |
Ce qui + ROP + V | Ce qui lui plaît. | What pleases him/her. |
Ce qui nous aide, c'est sa patience. (What helps us is his patience.)
Ce qui les surprend, c'est ma rapidité. (What surprises them is my speed.)
ce qui in this construction. The order ce qui is sacrosanct, maintaining its integrity as the subject.
When To Use It
ce qui when referring to an unspecified thing, idea, or situation that is acting as the subject of a verb. This covers a broad range of communicative needs, from making general observations to expressing nuanced opinions. The key determinant is the grammatical function of "what" in the clause: if it performs the action, use ce qui.ce qui to start a sentence or clause that comments on an abstract concept or an unstated fact. It often acts as a precursor to explaining what that unspecified thing is.Ce qui est important, c'est la communication.(What is important is communication.) - Here, "communication" is presented as the content of "what is important."Ce qui me frappe, c'est son calme.(What strikes me is his calm.) - The calmness is the object of the observation.Ce qui se passe est regrettable.(What is happening is regrettable.) - Describing an ongoing situation.
Ce qui can effectively connect two ideas, where the second clause comments on or provides a consequence of the entire preceding statement. In this context, ce qui acts as a cohesive device, referring back to the whole concept just expressed, not a single noun.Il a manqué le bus, ce qui l'a mis en retard.(He missed the bus, which made him late.) -ce quirefers to "missing the bus."Elle parle cinq langues, ce qui est très impressionnant.(She speaks five languages, which is very impressive.) -ce quirefers to the fact that she speaks five languages.Tu n'as pas fait tes devoirs, ce qui n'est pas acceptable.(You haven't done your homework, which is not acceptable.) -ce quirefers to the act of not doing homework.
ce qui fills that void.Regarde ce qui tombe du ciel !(Look what's falling from the sky!) - The specific object falling is unknown.Je ne sais pas ce qui le rend si heureux.(I don't know what makes him so happy.) - The cause of his happiness is unspecified.Il y a un problème, mais je ne vois pas ce qui le cause.(There's a problem, but I don't see what's causing it.) - The exact cause is currently unidentified.
Qu'est-ce qui):ce qui itself is not an interrogative pronoun, it forms the basis of the common interrogative phrase Qu'est-ce qui...? (What is it that...?) used for direct questions where "what" is the subject. You'll encounter ce qui in indirect questions after verbs like savoir, demander, etc.- Direct Question:
Qu'est-ce qui se passe ici ?(What is happening here?) - Indirect Question:
Je me demande ce qui se passe ici.(I wonder what is happening here.) - Indirect Question:
Dis-moi ce qui t'inquiète.(Tell me what worries you.)
ce qui is the correct and often elegant French construction. Its usage demonstrates a deeper grasp of French syntactic principles.Common Mistakes
ce qui is a frequent source of errors for French learners, primarily due to direct translation from English and confusion with similar-sounding structures. Avoiding these pitfalls requires a firm grasp of ce qui's singular function.ce qui with ce que:Ce quiis always followed by a verb (because it is the subject of that verb).Ce queis always followed by a subject + verb (becausece queis the direct object of that verb).
ce qui. If you can ask "who or what receives the action?", and the answer is "what", then it's ce que.ce que) | Correct (ce qui) | Explanation |*Ce que est important... | Ce qui est important... | est is a verb; ce qui must be its subject. |*Je ne comprends pas ce que se passe. | Je ne comprends pas ce qui se passe. | se passe is a verb; ce qui is its subject. |qui to qu' before a Vowel:ce qui is its invariability. Unlike que (which becomes qu' before a vowel or mute h), qui never elides. Ce qui remains ce qui even when followed by a verb beginning with a vowel. This is a tell-tale sign of a non-native speaker.ce qu') | Correct (ce qui) | Explanation |*Ce qu'est arrivé... | Ce qui est arrivé... | qui never elides; ce qui is always ce qui. |*C'est ce qu'interroge les gens. | C'est ce qui interroge les gens. | The i in qui is always pronounced, even before i. |ce qui to refer to People:Ce qui refers exclusively to things, ideas, or situations. It never refers to people. For a "what" referring to a person, you would typically restructure the sentence or use a different pronoun like celui qui (the one who) or celle qui (the one who).ce qui for person) | Correct (Restructured/Other) | Explanation |*Je connais ce qui est le meilleur. | Je connais celui qui est le meilleur. | ce qui is for things/ideas, not people. |*Ce qui est venu m'aider. | Celui qui est venu m'aider. | Use celui/celle qui for human referents. |ce qui acts as a singular, neuter subject, the verb that follows it must always be conjugated in the third person singular. Errors often occur when learners try to make the verb agree with a perceived plural or gendered idea that ce qui represents.*Ce qui sont importants... | Ce qui est important... | Verb always agrees with singular ce qui. |*Ce qui nous ont aidés... | Ce qui nous a aidés... | Auxiliary verb in compound tenses is 3rd singular. |ce qui's form, function, and invariability will significantly improve your accuracy and fluency. These are not minor slips but indicate a foundational misunderstanding of French relative pronoun system.Real Conversations
In contemporary French, ce qui is an omnipresent structure, foundational for nuanced expression in both informal and formal contexts. Its natural integration into everyday dialogue underscores its essential role in commenting on facts, observations, and unfolding situations. You’ll hear and use it constantly, reflecting how French speakers process and articulate abstract or undefined information.
1. Expressing General Opinions or Reactions:
It's common to preface an opinion or reaction with ce qui to generalize the subject. This allows for a more fluid and less direct expression of what is being reacted to.
- Text message: C'est fou ce qui s'est passé hier. Incroyable. (What happened yesterday is crazy. Unbelievable.)
- Casual chat: Ce qui est bien, c'est qu'on peut travailler de chez nous maintenant. (What's good is that we can work from home now.)
- Social media comment: Mdr, ce qui me tue, c'est sa tête ! (Lol, what kills me is his face!) - A humorous expression.
2. Connecting Events or Explaining Consequences:
Ce qui frequently serves to link a previously stated event or action to its consequence or impact, acting as a natural bridge between clauses. This makes explanations flow more logically.
- Work email: Le client n'a pas répondu, ce qui retarde le projet. (The client hasn't responded, which delays the project.)
- News report: Les nouvelles mesures, ce qui est une première, vont impacter tout le monde. (The new measures, which is a first, will impact everyone.)
- Friend explaining a situation: Il a oublié son portefeuille, ce qui nous a obligés à retourner. (He forgot his wallet, which forced us to go back.)
3. In Indirect Questions and Statements of Uncertainty:
When someone is inquiring about an unknown subject or expressing doubt, ce qui is central to the construction, particularly after verbs like savoir (to know), se demander (to wonder), voir (to see), dire (to say).
- Je ne sais pas ce qui la préoccupe en ce moment. (I don't know what's preoccupying her right now.)
- On verra bien ce qui en ressortira. (We'll see what comes out of it.)
- Dis-moi ce qui te ferait plaisir. (Tell me what would please you.)
This structure reflects a cognitive process of categorizing and commenting on observations rather than directly naming specific items. French speakers often frame their thoughts by first acknowledging "the thing that" before elaborating. This habit is key to sounding authentic. You will find that replacing a vague English "what" with ce qui can often make your French instantly more natural and precise. It's a linguistic tool for structuring thought around abstract subjects.
Quick FAQ
ce qui refer to animals?Yes, ce qui can refer to animals when you are referring to the animal in a general, unspecified sense, or if the individual identity of the animal is not the focus. For example, Ce qui aboie dans la cour est mon chien. (What's barking in the yard is my dog.) However, if you are referring to a specific animal previously mentioned, you would typically use qui.
ce qui that expresses plurality?No. Ce qui is inherently singular and neuter. If you need to refer to "the things that" or "those which," you would typically use constructions like ceux qui (masculine plural) or celles qui (feminine plural) when referring to known categories of people or things, or rephrase your sentence to avoid the need for a plural ce qui. For truly unspecified plurals, French often opts for different structures or contextually implies plurality.
ce qui instead of just qui here, when English often uses just "what"?French maintains a stricter distinction between relative pronouns with and without specific antecedents. qui (alone) requires a specific, named antecedent (a person or thing). ce qui is used when the antecedent is vague, abstract, or unknown—it's the "thing-that" or "that-which." The ce component provides this necessary indefinite reference, functioning as a neuter demonstrative pronoun. This grammatical precision helps avoid ambiguity.
ce qui ever change its form?No, ce qui is completely invariable. It never changes for gender, number, or elision before a vowel. It always remains ce qui. This is a crucial rule to remember and applies to all grammatical contexts.
ce qui differ from qu'est-ce qui?ce qui is a relative pronoun used in statements and indirect questions. It introduces a subordinate clause where "what" is is the subject. qu'est-ce qui is an interrogative phrase used specifically for direct questions where "what" is the subject.
Je sais ce qui te plaît.(I know what pleases you.) -ce quias relative pronoun.Qu'est-ce qui te plaît ?(What pleases you?) -qu'est-ce quias interrogative.
ce qui be used in formal writing?Absolutely. Ce qui is standard, grammatically correct French and is used across all registers, from highly formal academic texts to casual conversation. Its use is a sign of grammatical proficiency rather than formality level.
Formation Pattern
| Pronoun | Followed By | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ce qui
|
Verb
|
Subject
|
Ce qui est bien
|
|
Ce que
|
Subject + Verb
|
Direct Object
|
Ce que je veux
|
Meanings
The pronoun 'ce qui' functions as a neutral relative pronoun representing an entire idea or an unspecified thing, acting as the subject of the following verb.
Abstract Subject
Referring to an unknown or abstract situation.
“Ce qui est important, c'est la santé.”
“Dis-moi ce qui te fait peur.”
Emphasis
Used in cleft sentences to highlight a specific part of a sentence.
“Ce qui me plaît, c'est voyager.”
“Ce qui est difficile, c'est la grammaire.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Ce qui + V
|
Ce qui est vrai.
|
|
Negative
|
Ce qui + ne + V + pas
|
Ce qui ne va pas.
|
|
Question
|
Ce qui + V + ?
|
Sais-tu ce qui se passe ?
|
|
Cleft
|
Ce qui + V + c'est + X
|
Ce qui est dur, c'est ça.
|
|
Past
|
Ce qui + a + V (past participle)
|
Ce qui a changé.
|
|
Future
|
Ce qui + va + V (infinitive)
|
Ce qui va arriver.
|
Formality Spectrum
Ce qui se passe est étrange. (Describing a situation)
Ce qui se passe est bizarre. (Describing a situation)
Ce qui se passe, c'est chelou. (Describing a situation)
Ce qui se passe, c'est grave bizarre. (Describing a situation)
Relative Pronoun Decision Tree
Subject
- Ce qui The thing that
Object
- Ce que The thing that [I/you/he]
Examples by Level
Ce qui est là est à moi.
What is there is mine.
Ce qui est petit est mignon.
What is small is cute.
Ce qui est rouge est beau.
What is red is beautiful.
Ce qui est chaud est bon.
What is hot is good.
Je ne sais pas ce qui arrive.
I don't know what is happening.
Dis-moi ce qui est important.
Tell me what is important.
Ce qui me plaît, c'est le café.
What I like is coffee.
Sais-tu ce qui est cassé ?
Do you know what is broken?
Ce qui est frustrant, c'est le manque de temps.
What is frustrating is the lack of time.
Il a expliqué ce qui s'est passé hier.
He explained what happened yesterday.
Ce qui compte, c'est la sincérité.
What counts is sincerity.
Je cherche ce qui est le moins cher.
I am looking for what is the cheapest.
Ce qui rend cette situation complexe, c'est l'incertitude.
What makes this situation complex is the uncertainty.
Ce qui a été décidé hier ne nous convient pas.
What was decided yesterday does not suit us.
Il faut analyser ce qui a provoqué cette erreur.
We must analyze what caused this error.
Ce qui est remarquable, c'est sa patience.
What is remarkable is his patience.
Ce qui, à mon avis, constitue le cœur du problème, c'est l'inaction.
What, in my opinion, constitutes the heart of the problem is inaction.
Ce qui nous amène à conclure que la théorie est fausse.
Which leads us to conclude that the theory is false.
Ce qui est paradoxal, c'est qu'il a réussi sans effort.
What is paradoxical is that he succeeded without effort.
Ce qui importe, c'est la pérennité du projet.
What matters is the sustainability of the project.
Ce qui, par essence, définit l'art, échappe souvent à la définition.
What, in essence, defines art often escapes definition.
Ce qui fut jadis une certitude est aujourd'hui remis en question.
What was once a certainty is today called into question.
Ce qui, en fin de compte, prévaut, c'est la justice.
What, in the end, prevails is justice.
Ce qui nous préoccupe, c'est l'imprévisibilité du système.
What concerns us is the unpredictability of the system.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the subject and object roles.
Learners use 'qui' when they need a neutral pronoun.
Learners use 'ce qui' when the verb requires 'de'.
Common Mistakes
Ce qui je mange.
Ce que je mange.
Qui est bon.
Ce qui est bon.
Ce qui le chat fait.
Ce que le chat fait.
Ce qui est le livre.
C'est le livre.
Je sais ce qui tu veux.
Je sais ce que tu veux.
Ce qui est arrivé, je l'ai vu.
Ce qui est arrivé est arrivé.
Il a dit ce qui il a fait.
Il a dit ce qu'il a fait.
Ce qui je pense est vrai.
Ce que je pense est vrai.
Ce qui est le problème, c'est l'argent.
Le problème, c'est l'argent.
Ce qui est important pour moi, c'est que tu viens.
Ce qui est important pour moi, c'est que tu viennes.
Ce qui, je crois, est vrai.
Ce qui, je crois, est vrai.
Ce qui est à faire est difficile.
Ce qu'il y a à faire est difficile.
Ce qui est le cas est...
Ce qui est le cas, c'est...
Sentence Patterns
Ce qui ___ est ___.
Ce qui me ___ , c'est ___.
Je ne sais pas ce qui ___.
Ce qui ___ , c'est que ___.
Real World Usage
Ce qui est cool, c'est la nouvelle mise à jour.
Ce qui est prévu pour ce soir ?
Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est le développement.
Ce qui est inclus dans le prix ?
Ce qui est en rupture de stock.
Ce qui démontre cette hypothèse.
The Verb Test
No Nouns!
Emphasis
Natural Flow
Smart Tips
Use the 'Ce qui... c'est...' structure.
Look at the next word. Verb? 'Ce qui'. Subject? 'Ce que'.
Use 'Ce qui est prévu' to sound professional.
Check if it's a question. If not, it's likely 'ce qui' or 'ce que'.
Pronunciation
Elision
Always elide 'ce' to 'c'' before 'est' or 'a'.
Cleft sentence
Ce qui est drôle ↗, c'est ça ↘.
Rising intonation on the clause, falling on the conclusion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ce qui is the 'Subject' because it has an 'i' like 'I' (the subject).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'Ce' holding a 'qui' (a key) that unlocks a verb door.
Rhyme
Ce qui est suivi d'un verbe, c'est la règle que l'on observe.
Story
A detective is looking for a culprit. He says: 'Ce qui a volé le diamant (subject) est un fantôme. Ce que j'ai vu (object) était effrayant.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences starting with 'Ce qui' about your day in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
French speakers love cleft sentences ('Ce qui... c'est...') to add emphasis.
Similar usage, but often more informal in spoken speech.
Standard usage, often used in formal administrative French.
Derived from Latin 'ce' (demonstrative) and 'qui' (relative pronoun).
Conversation Starters
Ce qui est le plus difficile pour toi en français, c'est quoi ?
Ce qui te rend heureux, c'est quoi ?
Ce qui est prévu pour ton week-end ?
Ce qui compte le plus dans la vie, selon toi ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je ne sais pas ___ se passe.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Ce qui il a fait est grave.
Le problème est grave. (Start with: Ce qui...)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
est / ce qui / important / c'est / la santé
___ est vrai est important.
___ me plaît, c'est le voyage.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe ne sais pas ___ se passe.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Ce qui il a fait est grave.
Le problème est grave. (Start with: Ce qui...)
Match the correct pronoun.
est / ce qui / important / c'est / la santé
___ est vrai est important.
___ me plaît, c'est le voyage.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
6 exercises___ brille n'est pas toujours de l'or.
Ce qu'est important, c'est de participer.
m'énerve / Ce / qui / c'est / bruit / le
What is on the menu looks good.
___ m'a surpris, c'est son message.
Match the following:
Score: /6
FAQ (8)
Yes, it is very common: 'Ce qui est bien, c'est...'
Yes, that is the primary rule.
Then you must use 'qui' or 'que', not 'ce qui'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Check if the next word is a subject or a verb.
Yes: 'Sais-tu ce qui se passe ?'
No, it is always 'ce qui'.
Yes, it is standard in all French-speaking regions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Lo que
French requires two different pronouns based on syntax.
Was
German does not distinguish subject/object in this relative pronoun.
What
English is gender/case neutral here.
Koto
Japanese uses a noun-based structure.
Ma
Arabic grammar is entirely different.
Suo
Chinese syntax is word-order based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
![L'Aveu (1970) Bande Annonce VF [HD]](https://sublearn.com/storage/thumbnails/L2vcREIeHgw.jpg)
Related Grammar Rules
Stop Doubling Your Pronouns (Le doublement du sujet)
Overview In French grammar, the principle of **subject non-doubling** is fundamental, particularly for learners at the A...
French Emphasis Pronouns: Me, You, Him (moi, toi, lui...)
Overview French disjunctive pronouns, known as `pronoms toniques` (stressed pronouns), are a set of pronouns used for e...
French Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, Theirs (le mien, la tienne)
Overview At the B2 level, your goal shifts from simple communication to expressing complex ideas with precision and ele...
French Pronoun Order: Before the Infinitive
Overview In French grammar, object pronouns are clitics, meaning they are phonologically dependent on a verb and cannot...
French Demonstrative Pronouns: 'This one' and 'That one' (Celui, Celle)
Overview Demonstrative pronouns in French, specifically `celui`, `celle`, `ceux`, and `celles`, serve to replace a noun...
