A1 Pronouns 13 min read Easy

French Relative Pronoun 'Que': Connecting Ideas (that, which)

Use que as the 'glue' when a new subject follows to describe a noun.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'que' to connect two ideas when the second part has a subject but no preposition.

  • Use 'que' before a subject: 'Le livre que je lis' (The book that I read).
  • Never use 'que' before a verb directly; use 'qui' instead.
  • The 'que' becomes 'qu'' before a vowel or silent 'h'.
Noun + que + Subject + Verb

Overview

Relative pronouns serve as essential connectors in French grammar, allowing you to link two clauses and avoid repetition. They function as a bridge, referring back to a noun or pronoun (called the antecedent) in the main clause and introducing a subordinate clause that provides additional information about that antecedent. The French relative pronoun que (pronounced [kə]) is primarily used to replace a direct object in the subordinate clause.

It translates most commonly to "that," "which," or "whom" in English, though English often omits these words while French always requires their presence. Failing to use que where required will result in an ungrammatical and unintelligible sentence in French. Mastery of que is foundational for constructing more complex and fluid sentences, even at the beginner A1 level.

This grammatical structure reflects French's inherent preference for syntactic clarity and explicitness. Unlike English, where flexibility allows for dropping conjunctions and pronouns, French maintains a rigid structure to clearly delineate the role of each word within a sentence. This explicitness ensures that the relationship between the main idea and the added detail is always unambiguous.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, que replaces a noun that would function as the direct object of the verb in the second part of a sentence. A direct object is the noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb. For instance, in the sentence "Je mange la pomme" (I eat the apple), la pomme is the direct object because it's what you are eating.
When you want to elaborate on la pomme without starting a new sentence, que steps in.
Consider two simple sentences: "J'ai acheté un livre." (I bought a book.) and "Le livre est intéressant." (The book is interesting.). To combine these, you identify the direct object being repeated or referred to, which is un livre. You use que to replace un livre in the second clause, linking it to the first: "Le livre que j'ai acheté est intéressant." (The book that I bought is interesting.).
Here, que replaces un livre and acts as the direct object of ai acheté (bought).
An essential rule for que is its position: it always immediately precedes the subject of the subordinate clause. In "le livre que j'ai acheté": que comes right before je (the subject). This consistent pattern helps to distinguish que from other relative pronouns.
Que itself never performs the action of the verb in its own clause; it merely points back to the antecedent that receives the action from the new subject.
Elision with Vowels: French phonetics dictate that certain single-vowel words undergo elision (a contraction) when they precede a word starting with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u, y, or a silent h). Que is one such word. When the word immediately following que begins with a vowel or a silent h, que contracts to qu'.
For example, que + elle becomes qu'elle (that she), que + il becomes qu'il (that he), que + on becomes qu'on (that one/we), and que + a (as in a from avoir) becomes qu'a. This contraction ensures smoother pronunciation and is a mandatory orthographical rule.
| Original Phrase | Elided Form | English Translation |
| :--------------- | :---------- | :------------------ |
| que il | qu'il | that he |
| que elle | qu'elle | that she |
| que on | qu'on | that one/we |
| que ils | qu'ils | that they (masc) |
| que elles | qu'elles | that they (fem) |
| que à | qu'à | that has |

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with que follows a predictable structure, making it accessible even for beginners. The pattern involves identifying the noun you wish to describe further and then inserting the que clause immediately after it. This structure ensures clarity and precision in French.
2
Basic que Sentence Structure:
3
Main Clause (part 1): Introduce the antecedent (the noun or pronoun that que will refer to).
4
Relative Pronoun: Insert que (or qu' if the next word starts with a vowel/silent h).
5
Subordinate Clause: Add the new subject followed by a verb that has the antecedent as its direct object.
6
Main Clause (part 2): Complete the main clause if necessary.
7
Let's apply this pattern:
8
Antecedent: Le film (The film)
9
que: que
10
New Subject + Verb: tu regardes (you are watching)
11
Rest of Main Clause: est très bien (is very good)
12
Combined: Le film que tu regardes est très bien. (The film that you are watching is very good.). In this sentence, que replaces le film as the direct object of regardes (watch).
13
Agreement of the Past Participle (Accord du Participe Passé):
14
When que functions as a direct object and the verb in the subordinate clause is in a compound tense (like the passé composé), the past participle must agree in gender and number with the antecedent that que refers to. This is a crucial rule for grammatical correctness in French. While often introduced at A2 or B1, understanding its existence at A1 can prevent future confusion. For instance:
15
La pomme que j'ai mangée est délicieuse. (The apple that I ate is delicious.)
16
La pomme is feminine singular. Que refers to la pomme. Therefore, mangée takes an -e for feminine agreement.
17
Les livres qu'il a lus sont intéressants. (The books that he read are interesting.)
18
Les livres is masculine plural. Qu' refers to les livres. Therefore, lus takes an -s for plural agreement.
19
This agreement rule highlights the cohesive nature of French grammar, where elements within a sentence are often interdependent. It requires you to identify the gender and number of the antecedent that que represents, then adjust the past participle accordingly. Even if you don't master this agreement instantly at A1, recognize that such a rule exists to ensure your French progresses naturally.

When To Use It

Que is indispensable for adding depth and specificity to your sentences, preventing short, choppy expressions, and making your French sound more natural and fluent. You will use que whenever you want to provide more information about a direct object without creating a separate sentence. This makes your communication more efficient and sophisticated.
To Describe an Object or Person:
This is the most common application of que. Instead of saying "J'ai une voiture. Elle est rouge." (I have a car.
It is red.), you can combine them: "J'ai une voiture que j'aime beaucoup." (I have a car that I like a lot.). Here, que replaces une voiture as the direct object of j'aime (I like). Similarly for people: "La personne que je vois est mon ami." (The person whom I see is my friend.).
To Add Detail in Everyday Conversations:
Que is fundamental in daily interactions. Whether you're discussing plans, ordering food, or sharing experiences, it helps you elaborate naturally.
  • Voici le café qu'on prend toujours. (Here is the coffee that we always have.)
  • J'adore le film que tu m'as recommandé. (I love the movie that you recommended to me.)
  • As-tu trouvé la clé que tu cherchais ? (Did you find the key that you were looking for?)
In Written Communication (Texts, Social Media):
Even in informal written contexts like text messages or social media posts, que is vital. It allows for concise yet informative captions and messages.
  • Regardez la photo que j'ai postée hier ! (Look at the picture that I posted yesterday!)
  • C'est la chanson que j'écoute en boucle. (This is the song that I'm listening to on repeat.)
Que elevates your ability to express complex ideas succinctly, moving you beyond basic sentence structures. It's a hallmark of more advanced French communication, even though its basic function is introduced at A1. Using it correctly shows a command of French sentence construction and helps you sound more like a native speaker who naturally weaves details into their narratives.

Common Mistakes

Beginners often encounter specific challenges when using que. Understanding these common pitfalls and their underlying reasons is crucial for accelerating your learning and avoiding persistent errors.
  1. 1Forgetting Elision (qu' instead of que): One of the most frequent errors is neglecting the elision. As discussed, que must become qu' before a word starting with a vowel or silent h. This isn't optional; it's a rule of French phonetics and orthography.
  • Incorrect: Le livre que il lit.
  • Correct: Le livre qu'il lit. (The book that he is reading.)
  • Incorrect: La robe que elle porte.
  • Correct: La robe qu'elle porte. (The dress that she is wearing.)
  1. 1Confusing que and qui: This is arguably the most common and persistent mistake for French learners. While both que and qui are relative pronouns, they serve fundamentally different grammatical functions. Que replaces a direct object, whereas qui replaces a subject. A simple diagnostic rule applies:
  • If a subject (e.g., je, tu, il, Marie) follows the relative pronoun, use que (or qu').
  • If a verb immediately follows the relative pronoun, use qui.
| Situation | Rule | Example (English) | Example (French) |
| :---------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :------------------------------- |
| Replaces DO | que + Subject + Verb | The book that I read | Le livre que je lis. |
| Replaces Subject | qui + Verb | The book that is interesting | Le livre qui est intéressant. |
Remember, qui never elides. Even before a vowel, it remains qui: La femme qui arrive (The woman who is arriving). The distinction between que (object) and qui (subject) is non-negotiable in French grammar.
  1. 1Omitting que (English Influence): In English, the relative pronoun "that" is often optional, especially in casual speech: "The movie \[that] I saw was good." In French, que is never optional when functioning as a direct object relative pronoun. Its omission renders the sentence ungrammatical.
  • Incorrect: Le film j'ai vu était bon.
  • Correct: Le film que j'ai vu était bon. (The movie that I saw was good.)
  1. 1Incorrect Word Order After que: The clause following que must maintain standard French subject-verb order. You cannot invert the subject and verb as you might in some question structures.
  • Incorrect: La maison que vois-tu.
  • Correct: La maison que tu vois. (The house that you see.)
  • The structure is always que + subject + verb, not que + verb + subject.
Addressing these common mistakes directly will significantly improve your accuracy and understanding of que's role in French sentence construction. French values precise grammatical structure, and adhering to these rules demonstrates a solid grasp of the language.

Real Conversations

Understanding how que functions in everyday, authentic French communication is key to internalizing its use. It's not confined to formal writing; it's a workhorse of spoken and written interaction, from casual chats to social media posts. Notice how it seamlessly integrates information, making sentences flow more naturally.

Casual Text Message Exchange:

- Amélie: Tu as vu le film que je t'ai dit ? (Did you see the movie that I told you about?)

- Benoît: Oui ! C'est génial. J'adore l'actrice qu'elle a choisie. (Yes! It's great. I love the actress that she chose.)

- Amélie: Moi aussi ! C'est la meilleure scène que j'aie vue cette année. (Me too! It's the best scene that I've seen this year.)

Here, que replaces le film (direct object of dit), l'actrice (direct object of a choisie), and la scène (direct object of aie vue), demonstrating its versatility in conversation.

Social Media Caption:

- Voici la vue magnifique que j'ai depuis ma fenêtre ce matin. #Paris #View (Here is the magnificent view that I have from my window this morning.)

In this example, que replaces la vue magnifique as the direct object of j'ai (I have), providing context for the picture without needing a separate sentence.

A Short Dialogue:

- Chef: Alors, le plat que tu as préparé, c'est pour qui ? (So, the dish that you prepared, who is it for?)

- Apprenti: C'est pour le client qu'on attend. (It's for the client that we are waiting for.)

- Chef: D'accord. Et la sauce que j'ai goûtée hier, tu l'as améliorée ? (Okay. And the sauce that I tasted yesterday, did you improve it?)

These examples illustrate que in its natural habitat, showing how French speakers connect ideas by referring to direct objects previously mentioned. It highlights that que is not just a grammatical concept but a tool for dynamic, flowing communication.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common questions directly can clarify lingering doubts and reinforce understanding of que's specific uses and nuances.
  • Q: Can que refer to both people and things?

Yes, absolutely. Que is used for both animate and inanimate antecedents, as long as it replaces a direct object. For example, L'ami que j'ai rencontré (The friend whom I met) and Le livre que j'ai lu (The book that I read).

  • Q: Does que ever mean "what"?

In this context of relative pronouns, que translates to "that," "which," or "whom." However, que can also be an interrogative pronoun meaning "what" (e.g., Que fais-tu ? - What are you doing?). It's important not to confuse its function as a relative pronoun with its function in questions. As a relative pronoun, its purpose is to link clauses, not to ask a question.

  • Q: What about quoi? Isn't that also "what"?

Yes, quoi also means "what" but is used in different contexts, often after a preposition or in standalone questions. As a relative pronoun, quoi typically follows a preposition. For A1 learners, focus on que as the direct object relative pronoun.

  • Q: Is it true that the verb conjugation changes because of que?

The verb itself does not change its conjugation because of que. The verb in the que clause is conjugated according to its subject (e.g., je lis, tu lis). However, as noted in the "Formation Pattern" section, if the verb is in a compound tense (like passé composé), the past participle will agree in gender and number with the antecedent that que represents, because que is the direct object placed before the verb. This is an agreement rule, not a conjugation change.

  • Q: Why do French people use que so often?

The frequent use of que (and other relative pronouns) is a fundamental aspect of French syntax, contributing to its precision and clarity. It prevents ambiguous references and maintains a clear grammatical structure, making it easier to understand the relationships between different parts of a sentence. This contrasts with English, which allows for more elliptical structures.

  • Q: Will French speakers understand me if I forget que sometimes?

While a native speaker might infer your meaning in very simple contexts, omitting que makes your sentence grammatically incorrect and often sounds unnatural or even incomprehensible, especially as sentences become longer or more complex. It's a key structural element that signals the function of the subsequent clause. Always strive to include it.

  • Q: Does que ever take an accent?

No, the relative pronoun que is always spelled q-u-e and never includes any accent marks. Other words spelled similarly might have accents (e.g., où - where), but not this specific relative pronoun. This is a common point of confusion for learners due to the variety of accented letters in French.

Relative Pronoun Structure

Noun Relative Pronoun Subject Verb
Le livre
que
je
lis
La pomme
que
tu
manges
Le film
qu'
il
regarde
La voiture
qu'
elle
conduit
Les amis
que
nous
voyons
Les jeux
que
vous
aimez

Elision Rule

Full Form Context Result
que + il
Before vowel
qu'il
que + elle
Before vowel
qu'elle
que + on
Before vowel
qu'on

Meanings

The relative pronoun 'que' acts as a direct object connector, linking a noun to a descriptive clause.

1

Direct Object Connector

Connects a noun to a clause where that noun is the object of the action.

“Le film que j'aime.”

“La voiture que tu conduis.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Relative Pronoun 'Que': Connecting Ideas (that, which)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + que + S + V
Le pain que je mange
Negative
Noun + que + S + ne + V + pas
Le pain que je ne mange pas
Question
Est-ce le pain que tu manges ?
Est-ce le pain que tu manges ?
Short Answer
C'est celui que je mange.
C'est celui que je mange.
Past Tense
Noun + que + S + avoir + V(pp)
Le film que j'ai vu
Modal
Noun + que + S + modal + V
Le livre que je veux lire

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Le livre que je lis.

Le livre que je lis. (General)

Neutral
Le livre que je lis.

Le livre que je lis. (General)

Informal
Le livre que je lis.

Le livre que je lis. (General)

Slang
Le bouquin que je lis.

Le bouquin que je lis. (General)

The Que Connection

QUE

Function

  • Linker Connects two ideas

Requirement

  • Direct Object Receives action

Que vs Qui

Que
Le livre que je lis The book that I read
Qui
Le livre qui est ici The book that is here

Choosing the Pronoun

1

Is the next word a subject?

YES
Use 'que'
NO
Use 'qui'

Common Uses

🍎

Daily Life

  • • Food
  • • Books
  • • Movies
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Examples by Level

1

La pomme que je mange.

The apple that I am eating.

2

Le livre que tu lis.

The book that you are reading.

3

Le film que nous regardons.

The movie that we are watching.

4

La chanson qu'il écoute.

The song that he is listening to.

1

C'est la maison que j'ai achetée.

It is the house that I bought.

2

Le travail que tu fais est bon.

The work that you are doing is good.

3

Les fleurs qu'elle a choisies.

The flowers that she chose.

4

Le secret qu'ils ont gardé.

The secret that they kept.

1

L'idée que tu as eue est brillante.

The idea that you had is brilliant.

2

La décision qu'il a prise est finale.

The decision that he took is final.

3

Les erreurs que nous avons commises.

The mistakes that we made.

4

Le voyage qu'ils ont organisé.

The trip that they organized.

1

C'est une situation que je ne peux pas accepter.

It's a situation that I cannot accept.

2

Les mesures qu'il faudra prendre.

The measures that will need to be taken.

3

Le candidat que nous avons sélectionné.

The candidate that we selected.

4

La loi qu'ils ont votée hier.

The law that they voted on yesterday.

1

Le projet, que nous avions longuement mûri, fut un succès.

The project, which we had long considered, was a success.

2

La ville qu'il a décrite semble magnifique.

The city that he described seems magnificent.

3

Les principes qu'il a toujours défendus.

The principles that he has always defended.

4

La méthode qu'il a fallu employer.

The method that had to be used.

1

C'est là le dessein qu'il a poursuivi sa vie durant.

That is the goal he pursued his whole life.

2

Les écrits qu'il nous a laissés témoignent de son génie.

The writings he left us testify to his genius.

3

La vision qu'il a su imposer à ses contemporains.

The vision he managed to impose on his contemporaries.

4

Le destin qu'il s'est forgé.

The destiny he forged for himself.

Easily Confused

French Relative Pronoun 'Que': Connecting Ideas (that, which) vs Que vs Qui

Learners mix them up because both translate to 'that/which'.

French Relative Pronoun 'Que': Connecting Ideas (that, which) vs Que vs Dont

Learners use 'que' for verbs requiring 'de'.

French Relative Pronoun 'Que': Connecting Ideas (that, which) vs Que vs Ce que

Learners use 'que' when there is no noun antecedent.

Common Mistakes

✗

Le livre qui je lis.

✓

Le livre que je lis.

Use 'que' because 'je' is the subject.
✗

La pomme que est rouge.

✓

La pomme qui est rouge.

Use 'qui' because 'est' is a verb.
✗

Le livre que il lit.

✓

Le livre qu'il lit.

Must use elision before a vowel.
✗

Le livre que je le lis.

✓

Le livre que je lis.

The relative pronoun replaces the object; don't repeat it.
✗

La voiture que j'ai la conduite.

✓

La voiture que j'ai conduite.

Redundant pronoun error.
✗

Le film que je veux le voir.

✓

Le film que je veux voir.

Don't repeat the object.
✗

La chose que je pense.

✓

La chose à laquelle je pense.

Some verbs require prepositions.
✗

Le livre que j'ai besoin.

✓

Le livre dont j'ai besoin.

Need 'dont' for 'avoir besoin de'.
✗

La personne que je parle.

✓

La personne à qui je parle.

Need 'à qui' for 'parler à'.
✗

Le projet que je m'occupe.

✓

Le projet dont je m'occupe.

Need 'dont' for 's'occuper de'.
✗

La loi que je suis opposé.

✓

La loi à laquelle je suis opposé.

Prepositional requirement.
✗

Le but que je vise.

✓

Le but que je vise.

Actually correct, but often confused with 'dont'.
✗

Les gens que je me fie.

✓

Les gens à qui je me fie.

Need 'à qui' for 'se fier à'.

Sentence Patterns

Le ___ que je ___.

C'est la ___ que j'ai ___.

Le ___ que tu ___ est très ___.

La ___ que nous avons ___ est ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Le film que tu m'as conseillé est top !

Social Media very common

La photo que j'ai postée hier.

Job Interview common

Le projet que j'ai géré était complexe.

Travel common

Le restaurant que vous avez recommandé.

Food Delivery occasional

Le plat que j'ai commandé est froid.

Academic Writing constant

La théorie que nous avons étudiée.

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💡

Check the subject

Always look for the subject after 'que'. If you see a verb, you probably need 'qui'.
⚠️

Don't forget elision

Always write 'qu'' before a vowel. It's not optional!
🎯

Practice with objects

Start by describing objects you see in your room to get comfortable.
💬

Natural flow

Using 'que' makes your French sound much more native than using short, choppy sentences.

Smart Tips

Check if the first noun is the object of the second verb.

Le livre je lis. → Le livre que je lis.

Always contract 'que' to 'qu''.

Le film que il aime. → Le film qu'il aime.

If they are the object, use 'que'.

L'homme qui je vois. → L'homme que je vois.

Ensure your past participle agrees with the preceding direct object.

La lettre que j'ai écrit. → La lettre que j'ai écrite.

Pronunciation

kuh -> k'

Elision

The 'e' in 'que' is dropped before a vowel.

kuh-juh

Linking

Ensure 'que' flows into the next word.

Statement

Le livre que je lis ↘

Neutral declarative tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Que is for the Object, Qui is for the Doer. Remember: Q-U-E = Object, Q-U-I = Subject.

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge labeled 'QUE'. On one side is a Noun, on the other is a Subject. They are holding hands across the bridge.

Rhyme

If a subject follows, use 'que', it's the rule for you and me.

Story

Pierre has a book. He loves the book. He combines them: 'Le livre que Pierre aime.' Now he has a library of connected thoughts.

Word Web

quequidontlequelce quele

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you own using 'que' in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

French speakers use relative pronouns to create elegant, complex sentences.

Usage is similar, but spoken French may sometimes drop relative pronouns in very casual speech.

Standard French grammar is used in formal education and media.

Comes from the Latin 'quem', the accusative form of 'qui'.

Conversation Starters

“

Quel est le livre que tu préfères ?

“

C'est quoi le film que tu as vu récemment ?

“

Quelle est la chose que tu aimes le plus faire ?

“

Quel est le projet que tu aimerais réaliser ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your favorite meal using 'que'.
Write about a movie you recently watched.
Describe a goal you have for this year.
Reflect on a decision you made in the past.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'que' or 'qu''

Le livre ___ je lis est intéressant.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Followed by a subject 'je'.
Choose the correct pronoun Multiple Choice

La pomme ___ il mange est rouge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qu'
Elision before a vowel.
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le film qui je regarde est bon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que je regarde est bon.
Use 'que' before a subject.
Combine the sentences Sentence Transformation

J'ai un livre. Tu lis le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai le livre que tu lis.
Correct relative clause structure.
Complete the dialogue Dialogue Completion

A: Quel est le plat ___ tu préfères ? B: J'aime la pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Direct object.
Order the words Sentence Building

que / je / le / regarde / film

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que je regarde
Noun + que + Subject + Verb.
Match the sentence to the correct pronoun Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Direct object.
Fill in the blank

La voiture ___ elle conduit est rapide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qu'
Elision before vowel.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'que' or 'qu''

Le livre ___ je lis est intéressant.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Followed by a subject 'je'.
Choose the correct pronoun Multiple Choice

La pomme ___ il mange est rouge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qu'
Elision before a vowel.
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le film qui je regarde est bon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que je regarde est bon.
Use 'que' before a subject.
Combine the sentences Sentence Transformation

J'ai un livre. Tu lis le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai le livre que tu lis.
Correct relative clause structure.
Complete the dialogue Dialogue Completion

A: Quel est le plat ___ tu préfères ? B: J'aime la pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Direct object.
Order the words Sentence Building

que / je / le / regarde / film

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que je regarde
Noun + que + Subject + Verb.
Match the sentence to the correct pronoun Match Pairs

Le livre ___ je lis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Direct object.
Fill in the blank

La voiture ___ elle conduit est rapide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qu'
Elision before vowel.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

L'ordinateur ___ tu utilises est rapide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Correct the vowel clash Error Correction

La photo que elle regarde est belle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La photo qu'elle regarde est belle.
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

le film / que / c'est / je / regarde

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le film que je regarde
Translate to French Translation

The dog that I see is big.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le chien que je vois est grand.
Match the English to French Match Pairs

Match the sentences:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All matched correctly
Pick the right relative pronoun Multiple Choice

La fille ___ j'aime s'appelle Marie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Les exercices ___ nous faisons sont difficiles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Fix the pronoun Error Correction

La musique qu'tu écoutes est super.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La musique que tu écoutes est super.
Order the sentence Sentence Reorder

mangée / j'ai / que / la pizza / est / froide

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pizza que j'ai mangée est froide
Translate 'The app he uses' Translation

Translate: The app he uses

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'application qu'il utilise

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Usually, yes. It connects a noun to a clause.

Always before a vowel or silent 'h'.

Yes, if they are the object. 'L'homme que je vois' (The man that I see).

'Qui' is for the subject (the doer).

Then you use 'dont'.

No, it's used in all registers.

No, in French you must always include the relative pronoun.

No, 'ce que' is used when there is no noun.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

que

Spanish doesn't have the same elision rules as French.

German moderate

das / welches

German relative pronouns change based on case (nominative, accusative, etc.).

Japanese low

relative clause + noun

Japanese has no relative pronouns like 'que'.

Arabic partial

alladhi / allati

Arabic pronouns are much more specific than the invariant 'que'.

Chinese low

de

Chinese structure is entirely different from French.

English high

that / which

English often omits the relative pronoun, while French never does.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that)
Next
French Place Pronoun: Where & When (`où`)

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A1 Builds On

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