A2 Pronouns 12 min read Easy

French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector

Use qui to replace a subject noun and connect it directly to a following verb without elision.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'qui' to connect two sentences when the pronoun is the subject of the second verb.

  • Use 'qui' immediately after the noun it describes: 'L'homme qui mange.'
  • Always follow 'qui' with a conjugated verb: 'La fille qui chante.'
  • Never elide 'qui' (it remains 'qui' even before vowels).
Noun + [qui] + Verb

Overview

In French, the relative pronoun qui serves as a fundamental linguistic connector, enabling the seamless integration of two clauses by replacing the subject of the subordinate clause. This mechanism allows you to build more sophisticated and fluid sentences, thereby avoiding the repetitive structures common in basic communication. Qui functions primarily as ‘who,’ ‘which,’ or ‘that’ in English, always referring back to a noun or pronoun (the antecedent) in the preceding main clause.

Its invariant form—meaning it never changes for gender or number, nor does it elide before a vowel—is a cornerstone of its usage, ensuring clarity and consistency. Mastery of qui is essential for progressing beyond simple sentence construction and is a key step in forming complex thoughts in French.

How This Grammar Works

French, like English, seeks to avoid redundancy. When two clauses share a common element, particularly when that element is the subject of the second clause, relative pronouns are employed to link them efficiently. Consider the statements: J'ai un ami. (I have a friend.) and Mon ami parle français. (My friend speaks French.).
Repeating mon ami makes the expression clunky. Qui resolves this by replacing mon ami in the second clause, transforming it into a relative clause that modifies the noun un ami from the first clause. The resulting sentence, J'ai un ami qui parle français., elegantly combines both ideas.
Crucially, qui must be immediately followed by a verb because it functions as the subject performing the action. This direct connection to the verb is the definitive characteristic distinguishing qui from other relative pronouns. The linguistic principle at play is subordination, where one clause depends on another, allowing for hierarchical structuring of information.
Examples:
  • C'est l'étudiante qui a gagné le prix. (She is the student who won the prize.) Here, qui replaces l'étudiante as the subject of a gagné.
  • J'ai acheté un livre qui est très intéressant. (I bought a book that is very interesting.) Qui replaces le livre as the subject of est.
  • Les personnes qui voyagent apprennent beaucoup. (The people who travel learn a lot.) Qui replaces les personnes as the subject of voyagent.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing a sentence with qui involves a straightforward process focused on identifying the element being described and its role as the subject of the subsequent action. The fundamental pattern is Antecedent + qui + Verb (+ Complement). This sequence is rigid: qui must directly precede the verb of the relative clause, and it must refer to a noun or pronoun that immediately precedes it in the main clause.
2
To apply this pattern effectively, follow these steps:
3
Identify the main clause: This is the primary statement. (e.g., Je connais une fille.) (I know a girl.)
4
Identify the secondary clause: This clause provides additional information about a noun in the main clause. (e.g., Elle étudie l'espagnol.) (She studies Spanish.)
5
Find the common element: The noun in the main clause that is also the subject of the secondary clause. Here, une fille is the common element, and elle (referring to une fille) is the subject of étudie.
6
Replace the subject of the secondary clause with qui: Remove elle and insert qui in its place. (e.g., qui étudie l'espagnol)
7
Combine the clauses: Place the relative clause immediately after its antecedent. Je connais une fille qui étudie l'espagnol. (I know a girl who studies Spanish.)
8
Crucially, qui is invariant. It does not change its form based on the gender or number of its antecedent. Unlike some other French words, qui also never undergoes elision before a vowel or mute h. This means it will always appear as qui, even if the following word begins with a vowel. This fixed form aids in its identification and prevents confusion with other elements like que.
9
Here’s a summary of the formation:
10
| Antecedent Type | Qui Usage | Example | Translation |
11
| :---------------- | :---------- | :---------------------------------- | :---------------------------------- |
12
| Singular Person | qui + Verb | L'homme qui travaille est mon père. | The man who works is my father. |
13
| Plural Person | qui + Verb | Les enfants qui jouent sont heureux. | The children who are playing are happy. |
14
| Singular Thing | qui + Verb | Le restaurant qui ferme est loin. | The restaurant that is closing is far. |
15
| Plural Thing | qui + Verb | Les voitures qui passent sont chères. | The cars that pass are expensive. |
16
| Before Vowel | qui + Verb | La femme qui arrive est ma sœur. | The woman who is arriving is my sister. |

When To Use It

You will use qui extensively whenever you need to provide additional, essential information about a subject without breaking the sentence flow. Its primary function is to introduce a relative clause that describes who or what is performing the action in that clause. This makes qui indispensable for characterizations, descriptions, and explanations in French.
Here are the specific scenarios where qui is your go-to relative pronoun:
  • To describe people: When you want to specify who a person is or what they do. Qui connects the person to their action or characteristic.
  • J'ai un voisin qui est très gentil. (I have a neighbor who is very kind.)
  • C'est l'acteur qui joue dans ce film. (He's the actor who stars in this film.)
  • To describe things or animals: Similar to people, qui attributes an action or state to an inanimate object or animal.
  • Nous avons un chat qui dort toute la journée. (We have a cat that sleeps all day.)
  • J'ai acheté un téléphone qui a une bonne caméra. (I bought a phone that has a good camera.)
  • To define or identify: When you are specifying which item or person you are referring to among several.
  • Quelle est la solution qui marche le mieux ? (Which is the solution that works best?)
  • Montre-moi la photo qui est sur la table. (Show me the photo that is on the table.)
  • In formal and informal contexts: Qui is used across all registers of French. Whether you are writing an academic paper or chatting with a friend, qui maintains its function.
  • Formal: L'entreprise qui innove attire les talents. (The company that innovates attracts talent.)
  • Informal: C'est le prof qui donne les meilleures notes. (He's the teacher who gives the best grades.)
  • After expressions like C'est... qui or Ce sont... qui: These structures emphasize the subject and are very common.
  • C'est toi qui as fait ça ? (Is it you who did that?)
  • Ce sont eux qui paient la facture. (It is they who are paying the bill.)
Remember, the core rule remains: if the word you are replacing in the second clause is the subject of its verb, qui is the correct choice. The verb following qui must agree in number and person with the antecedent that qui represents. For instance, in Les étudiants qui apprennent réussissent., apprennent is third person plural, agreeing with Les étudiants.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific challenges when using qui. Understanding these pitfalls and their underlying reasons is crucial for accurate and natural French communication.
  1. 1Confusing Qui with Que: This is by far the most prevalent error. The distinction between qui and que is fundamental: qui always functions as the subject of the relative clause, while que (or qu' before a vowel) always functions as the direct object. If a verb immediately follows the relative pronoun, you need qui. If a new subject (a noun or pronoun like je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles, or a proper noun) follows the relative pronoun, you need que.
  • Correct qui usage (subject): Je vois la fille qui chante. (I see the girl who is singing.) (la fille is the subject of chante)
  • Incorrect que usage: Je vois la fille que chante. (This is grammatically incorrect.)
  • Correct que usage (direct object): Je vois la fille que tu aimes. (I see the girl whom you like.) (la fille is the direct object of aimes, and tu is the subject of aimes)
The grammatical test is simple: can you rephrase the second part of the sentence to isolate the action? If the antecedent performs the action, use qui. If something else performs the action to the antecedent, use que.
  1. 1Eliding Qui before a Vowel: A strong temptation for French learners is to elide qui to qu' before a vowel, mirroring the behavior of que. However, qui never elides. It maintains its full form, qui, regardless of the initial sound of the following word. This absolute rule exists to prevent ambiguity and preserve the clear distinction between qui (subject) and que (object). Qu'il for example, is always a contraction of que il and never qui il.
  • Incorrect: Le livre qu'il est intéressant.
  • Correct: Le livre qui est intéressant. (The book that is interesting.)
  • Incorrect: Les amis qu'on invite. (This implies que and changes the meaning.)
  • Correct: Les amis qui ont invité. (The friends who invited.)
  1. 1Incorrect Verb Agreement: While qui itself is invariant, the verb that immediately follows qui must agree in number and person with the antecedent (the noun or pronoun that qui refers to). This is a common oversight.
  • Incorrect: C'est moi qui a raison.
  • Correct: C'est moi qui ai raison. (It is I who am right.) (ai agrees with moi, first person singular).
  • Incorrect: Ce sont les enfants qui mange.
  • Correct: Ce sont les enfants qui mangent. (It is the children who are eating.) (mangent agrees with les enfants, third person plural).
  1. 1Overuse or Misuse of Lequel / Laquelle / Lesquels / Lesquelles: While these pronouns also function as relative pronouns, they are generally used after prepositions or in more formal contexts to provide greater specificity. For a simple subject function, qui is the standard and most natural choice. Using lequel as a subject replacement without a preceding preposition is grammatically incorrect and stylistically awkward.

Real Conversations

In modern French communication, qui is an omnipresent and natural part of daily discourse, moving seamlessly from casual chats to professional exchanges. It adds nuance and avoids the stilted quality of overly simple sentences. Observing its use in authentic contexts helps internalize its function beyond textbook examples.

- Social Media & Texting: Qui is essential for concise descriptions.

- J'ai vu une vidéo qui m'a fait rire tout l'après-midi. (I saw a video that made me laugh all afternoon.)

- Mon ami qui habite à Lyon a posté des photos incroyables. (My friend who lives in Lyon posted incredible photos.)

- Casual Conversation: When describing people, events, or objects in daily life.

- Tu connais le nouveau café qui a ouvert près de la fac ? (Do you know the new café that opened near the university?)

- Il y a un truc qui me dérange dans cette situation. (There's something that bothers me about this situation.)

- Les collègues qui ont fini leur projet peuvent partir. (The colleagues who finished their project can leave.)

- Work Emails/Professional Settings: For clarity and precision in directives or descriptions.

- Veuillez contacter la personne qui gère ce dossier. (Please contact the person who manages this file.)

- Nous cherchons des solutions qui soient plus efficaces. (We are looking for solutions that are more efficient.)

French speakers use qui instinctively to maintain a smooth flow of information, allowing for richer detail without sounding formal. The lack of elision for qui (qui est, not qu'est) might initially feel counter-intuitive given other French contractions, but it's quickly absorbed through exposure, helping to differentiate it auditorily from que.

Quick FAQ

  • Does qui only refer to people?
No, qui can refer to both people and things. Its function is determined by its grammatical role as the subject of the relative clause, not by the nature of its antecedent. For example, Le film qui passe ce soir est bon. (The film that is playing tonight is good.)
  • Can qui be used with est-ce que?
Yes, but the structure changes slightly. To ask "Who is it that..." or "What is it that..." when the unknown element is the subject, you use Qui est-ce qui...? for people and Qu'est-ce qui...? for things. Note the essential role of qui here as the subject of the final verb.
  • Qui est-ce qui a sonné à la porte ? (Who is it who rang the doorbell?)
  • Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ? (What is it that happened?)
  • Is qui ever used as an object?
Yes, but only when preceded by a preposition (e.g., avec qui, pour qui, chez qui). In such cases, qui refers exclusively to people and functions as the object of the preposition, not as a direct object within a relative clause. This is a more advanced usage (qui as object of a preposition) and distinct from its role as a subject relative pronoun.
  • La personne avec qui je travaille est sympa. (The person with whom I work is nice.)
  • Does qui change for plural or gender?
No, qui is an invariant pronoun. Its form never changes, regardless of the gender or number of the noun or pronoun it refers to. The verb that follows qui, however, must agree with the antecedent in person and number.
  • Why does qui not elide before a vowel, unlike que?
The lack of elision for qui (qui a vs. qu'il a) is a crucial distinction that helps avoid ambiguity between the subject relative pronoun qui and the object relative pronoun que. This grammatical rule ensures clarity in both written and spoken French, acting as a clear signal of the pronoun's function.

Relative Clause Structure

Noun Relative Pronoun Verb Rest of Sentence
Le garçon
qui
mange
une pomme
La fille
qui
parle
français
Les livres
qui
sont
sur la table
L'ami
qui
travaille
ici
La voiture
qui
roule
vite
Les gens
qui
attendent
le bus

Meanings

A relative pronoun used to introduce a relative clause where the pronoun acts as the subject of the following verb.

1

Subject of the verb

The pronoun replaces the subject of the second clause.

“La femme qui parle est ma mère.”

“Le livre qui est sur la table est à moi.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + qui + Verb
L'homme qui rit.
Negative
Noun + qui + ne + Verb + pas
L'homme qui ne rit pas.
Question
Est-ce le Noun + qui + Verb?
Est-ce le garçon qui chante?
Plural
Noun(s) + qui + Verb
Les amis qui dansent.
Past
Noun + qui + a/est + Participle
L'homme qui a mangé.
Future
Noun + qui + Verb(future)
L'homme qui mangera.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
L'homme qui parle est mon supérieur.

L'homme qui parle est mon supérieur. (Professional/Social)

Neutral
L'homme qui parle est mon patron.

L'homme qui parle est mon patron. (Professional/Social)

Informal
Le mec qui parle, c'est mon boss.

Le mec qui parle, c'est mon boss. (Professional/Social)

Slang
Le type qui cause, c'est mon chef.

Le type qui cause, c'est mon chef. (Professional/Social)

The Qui Bridge

Qui

Function

  • Subject The doer

Followed by

  • Verbe Verb
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

C'est le garçon qui chante.

It is the boy who is singing.

2

J'aime le chien qui court.

I like the dog that is running.

3

Voici la fille qui habite ici.

Here is the girl who lives here.

4

C'est le livre qui est sur la table.

It is the book that is on the table.

1

Les étudiants qui travaillent réussissent.

The students who work succeed.

2

Je cherche le train qui part à dix heures.

I am looking for the train that leaves at ten.

3

C'est une personne qui est très gentille.

It is a person who is very kind.

4

Le restaurant qui est en ville est bon.

The restaurant that is in town is good.

1

C'est le projet qui m'intéresse le plus.

It is the project that interests me the most.

2

Les gens qui ne mangent pas de viande sont végétariens.

People who don't eat meat are vegetarians.

3

Il a trouvé la clé qui ouvre cette porte.

He found the key that opens this door.

4

C'est une situation qui demande de la patience.

It's a situation that requires patience.

1

C'est une décision qui a été prise par le directeur.

It is a decision that was made by the director.

2

Il faut trouver une solution qui convienne à tout le monde.

We must find a solution that suits everyone.

3

Les lois qui protègent l'environnement sont essentielles.

Laws that protect the environment are essential.

4

C'est le seul candidat qui ait les compétences requises.

He is the only candidate who has the required skills.

1

C'est un phénomène qui s'explique par des facteurs historiques.

It is a phenomenon that is explained by historical factors.

2

Il a écrit un livre qui traite de la condition humaine.

He wrote a book that deals with the human condition.

3

Les entreprises qui innovent sont celles qui survivent.

Companies that innovate are those that survive.

4

C'est une approche qui remet en question nos certitudes.

It is an approach that challenges our certainties.

1

C'est une œuvre qui transcende les époques.

It is a work that transcends eras.

2

La structure qui sous-tend ce système est complexe.

The structure that underlies this system is complex.

3

C'est une théorie qui fait l'unanimité parmi les experts.

It is a theory that is unanimously accepted by experts.

4

Il s'agit d'une réforme qui bouleverse les habitudes.

It is a reform that disrupts habits.

Easily Confused

French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector vs Qui vs Que

Learners mix them up because both translate to 'that' or 'who'.

French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector vs Qui vs Lequel

Both can refer to things.

French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector vs Qui vs Dont

Both are relative pronouns.

Common Mistakes

✗

Le garçon que mange.

✓

Le garçon qui mange.

Use 'qui' before a verb.
✗

Le garçon est ici qui mange.

✓

Le garçon qui mange est ici.

The relative clause must follow the noun.
✗

La fille qu'est ici.

✓

La fille qui est ici.

'Qui' does not elide.
✗

Le livre je lis.

✓

Le livre que je lis.

You cannot omit the relative pronoun.
✗

L'homme qui je vois.

✓

L'homme que je vois.

Use 'que' for objects.
✗

La femme qui travaille, elle est ici.

✓

La femme qui travaille est ici.

Avoid redundant pronouns.
✗

C'est le chien qui je l'aime.

✓

C'est le chien que j'aime.

Relative pronouns replace the object.
✗

Le projet qui je travaille dessus.

✓

Le projet sur lequel je travaille.

Use 'lequel' after prepositions.
✗

C'est la personne qui j'ai parlé.

✓

C'est la personne à qui j'ai parlé.

Need preposition for indirect objects.
✗

Le film qui j'ai vu.

✓

Le film que j'ai vu.

Object vs Subject confusion.
✗

C'est une chose qui je ne comprends pas.

✓

C'est une chose que je ne comprends pas.

Object relative pronoun.
✗

Les gens qui je connais.

✓

Les gens que je connais.

Object relative pronoun.
✗

C'est la raison qui je suis venu.

✓

C'est la raison pour laquelle je suis venu.

Need prepositional phrase.
✗

Le livre qui j'ai besoin.

✓

Le livre dont j'ai besoin.

Need 'dont' for 'avoir besoin de'.

Sentence Patterns

C'est le/la ___ qui ___.

J'aime les ___ qui ___.

Voici le ___ qui ___.

C'est une situation qui ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

C'est la personne qui a posté la photo.

Texting constant

C'est qui qui vient ?

Job Interview very common

J'ai géré une équipe qui compte dix personnes.

Travel common

Quel est le bus qui va au centre-ville ?

Food Delivery common

Je veux le plat qui est sans gluten.

Academic Writing common

C'est une théorie qui est largement acceptée.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The Verb Test

Always look at the word immediately after 'qui'. If it's a verb, you're 100% correct.
⚠️

Don't Elide

Never write 'qu'i'. It is always 'qui', even before a vowel.
🎯

Subject vs Object

If the noun is doing the action, use 'qui'. If it's receiving the action, use 'que'.
💬

Spoken French

In very informal speech, you might hear 'c'est qui qui...' but avoid this in writing.

Smart Tips

Look at the word after the pronoun. If it's a verb, use 'qui'. If it's a noun or pronoun, use 'que'.

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

Remember 'qui' is the default for people as subjects.

La fille que chante. → La fille qui chante.

Use 'qui' to link your experience to your skills.

J'ai des compétences. Elles sont utiles. → J'ai des compétences qui sont utiles.

Don't be tempted to elide 'qui'. It stays 'qui'.

La fille qu'est ici. → La fille qui est ici.

Pronunciation

/ki/

Qui

Pronounced like 'key'.

Rising

C'est le garçon qui chante? ↗

Questioning tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Qui is the Subject, Que is the Object. Remember: Q-U-I = Quick action (Verb).

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge labeled 'QUI' connecting a person (the noun) to an action (the verb). If the person is holding the verb, it's a 'QUI' bridge.

Rhyme

If a verb follows, use 'qui', it's as easy as one, two, three.

Story

Meet 'Qui', the busy bee. Qui always lands on a verb. If you see a noun, put Qui right after, and watch the verb follow immediately. It's a perfect match.

Word Web

SujetVerbeConnecteurRelatifPhrase

Challenge

Write 5 sentences describing people in your room using 'qui' + verb.

Cultural Notes

In France, 'qui' is standard in all registers. Using it correctly is a sign of good education.

In Quebec, 'qui' is used similarly, but you might hear 'que' used more broadly in very informal speech.

In formal French used in West Africa, 'qui' is used exactly as in France.

Derived from the Latin 'qui', which functioned as a relative pronoun.

Conversation Starters

“

Qui est la personne qui t'inspire le plus?

“

Quel est le film qui t'a fait pleurer?

“

Connais-tu quelqu'un qui habite à l'étranger?

“

Quelle est la chose qui te rend heureux?

Journal Prompts

Décris ton meilleur ami.
Parle d'un livre ou d'un film que tu aimes.
Quelles sont les qualités d'un bon professeur?
Décris ton travail ou tes études.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

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

L'homme ___ mange est mon père.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre que je lis est bon.
Followed by a subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La fille qu'est ici est sympa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui est ici est sympa.
No elision for qui.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Building

J'aime le chien. Le chien court.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'aime le chien qui court.
Qui is the subject.
Match the clauses. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le garçon - qui chante
Qui + verb.
Choose the correct relative pronoun. Multiple Choice

C'est la voiture ___ est rouge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Fill in the blank.

Les gens ___ travaillent ici sont gentils.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le film que j'ai vu est long.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que j'ai vu est long.
Correct as is.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'qui' or 'que'.

L'homme ___ mange est mon père.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre que je lis est bon.
Followed by a subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La fille qu'est ici est sympa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui est ici est sympa.
No elision for qui.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Building

J'aime le chien. Le chien court.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'aime le chien qui court.
Qui is the subject.
Match the clauses. Match Pairs

Match the noun to the clause.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le garçon - qui chante
Qui + verb.
Choose the correct relative pronoun. Multiple Choice

C'est la voiture ___ est rouge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Fill in the blank.

Les gens ___ travaillent ici sont gentils.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le film que j'ai vu est long.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film que j'ai vu est long.
Correct as is.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

La voiture ___ roule vite est rouge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Fix the elision error Error Correction

C'est l'étudiant qu'étudie beaucoup.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est l'étudiant qui étudie beaucoup.
Subject or Object? Multiple Choice

Identify the correct connector:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le gâteau que j'ai mangé.
Translate to French Translation

The girl who is laughing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui rit.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

livre / qui / est / Le / cher / est

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre qui est cher.
Match the start to the end Match Pairs

Connect the parts:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'homme qui... | ...habite ici.
Modern context Fill in the Blank

C'est un post ___ a eu beaucoup de likes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Formal or Informal Multiple Choice

Which fits best in a text?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le mec qui m'a appelé.
Find the verb agreement Error Correction

Les gens qui mange trop.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les gens qui mangent trop.
Translate the app scenario Translation

The app that doesn't work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'appli qui ne marche pas.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, 'qui' is used for both people and objects when it is the subject of the clause.

No, 'qui' is invariant. It is the same for singular and plural.

Because 'qui' is never elided. It is a fixed form.

Yes, 'qui' can mean 'who' in questions, but that is a different usage from the relative pronoun.

Use 'que' when the noun is the direct object of the verb that follows.

Only when referring to people (e.g., 'la personne avec qui je travaille').

It is used in all registers, from casual to formal.

The rule remains the same: 'qui' + reflexive verb (e.g., 'l'homme qui se lave').

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

que

French requires 'qui' for subjects, while Spanish uses 'que' for both.

German low

der/die/das

German pronouns change based on case; French 'qui' does not.

English moderate

who/that

French 'qui' is gender-neutral and object-neutral.

Japanese none

relative clause

Word order: Japanese (Clause + Noun) vs French (Noun + Clause).

Arabic partial

alladhi

Arabic pronouns agree with the noun; French 'qui' is invariant.

Chinese none

de

Chinese uses a particle; French uses a pronoun.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Pronoun 'EN': How to talk about quantities (some, of it)
Next
Connecting Sentences with 'Que' (Direct Object)

Learn These First

A1 Builds On

French Subject Pronouns (Je, Tu, Il, Elle...)

Overview French subject pronouns are fundamental building blocks of the language, serving to identify who or what is per...

Related Grammar Rules

A1

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...
B2

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...
B2

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...
B1

French Pronoun Order: Before the Infinitive

Overview In French grammar, object pronouns are clitics, meaning they are phonologically dependent on a verb and cannot...
B1

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...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!