A1 Pronouns 13 min read Easy

French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that)

Use qui as a subject connector followed by a verb to combine sentences and avoid repetition.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'qui' to connect two sentences when the subject of the second sentence is the same as the first.

  • Use 'qui' to replace a subject (person or thing). Example: L'homme qui mange.
  • Place 'qui' immediately after the noun it describes. Example: Le livre qui est sur la table.
  • Follow 'qui' directly with a verb. Example: La fille qui chante.
Noun + qui + Verb

Overview

Effective French communication relies on seamlessly connecting ideas, avoiding the choppy repetition of phrases like 'I have a book. The book is interesting.' To achieve fluidity, French employs relative pronouns, words that link a subordinate clause to a main clause, referring back to a noun or pronoun in the main clause. The relative pronoun qui is one of the most fundamental of these connectors, indispensable for building more complex and coherent sentences even at an A1 level.

The essential function of qui is to replace the subject of a subsequent clause. Every action in a sentence requires a performer—a subject. When qui is employed, it assumes this role, eliminating the need to repeat the noun or its subject pronoun.

For instance, instead of Je connais une fille. Elle parle français., you seamlessly merge them into Je connais une fille qui parle français. (I know a girl who speaks French.). Here, qui assumes the role of elle, becoming the subject of the verb parle.

It is the active agent performing the action.

The English equivalents for qui are versatile: "who," when referring to people, and "which" or "that," when referring to things or concepts. This singular French term simplifies what might otherwise be a more complex grammatical choice in English. By enabling you to elaborate on nouns without cumbersome repetition, qui is not merely a grammatical rule but a linguistic bridge.

Mastering qui unlocks more sophisticated descriptions, making your French sound authentic and less robotic. It embodies a fundamental principle of efficient sentence construction: direct referencing.

How This Grammar Works

The core function of qui is as a subject relative pronoun: it always introduces a clause where it performs the action. qui connects a descriptive clause to an existing noun, its antecedent. The verb immediately following qui must agree with this antecedent in number and person, while qui itself remains invariant, never changing form.
Consider the sentence structure: [Main Clause with Antecedent] + qui + [Verb agreeing with Antecedent] + [Rest of Subordinate Clause].
In the phrase Le chat qui dort. (The cat who/that sleeps.), le chat is the antecedent. qui replaces the implied subject "it" or "the cat" from a separate thought, il dort. The verb dort agrees with le chat (singular, 3rd person).
Similarly, Les étudiants qui étudient. (The students who study.) uses les étudiants as the plural antecedent. qui replaces "they" (ils étudient), and étudient is the plural form of the verb.
The power of qui lies in its ability to embed additional information directly into a sentence without creating new, separate sentences. It establishes a direct relationship between the antecedent and the action described in the relative clause. This eliminates the need for redundant subject pronouns (il, elle, ils, elles), making your speech and writing more concise.
  • qui refers to people: C'est la femme qui travaille ici. (That's the woman who works here.) Here, qui replaces elle.
  • qui refers to things: J'ai un livre qui est intéressant. (I have a book that is interesting.) Here, qui replaces il.
  • qui refers to concepts/ideas: C'est une idée qui me plaît. (It's an idea that pleases me.) Here, qui replaces elle.
This consistent function, invariant regardless of the antecedent's gender or number, simplifies its application for beginners. Remember: qui always initiates an action within its clause.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing sentences with qui follows a consistent pattern. First, identify the antecedent—the noun or pronoun you wish to describe. Then, immediately place qui after it, followed by the verb describing the antecedent's action. qui must always directly follow its antecedent.
2
The fundamental structure is:
3
[Antecedent (Noun/Pronoun)] + qui + [Conjugated Verb] + [Remaining Clause Elements]
4
Let's break this down:
5
Identify your Antecedent: This is the person, place, or thing you want to provide more information about. It must be present in the main clause.
6
Example: le professeur (the teacher)
7
Place qui immediately after the Antecedent: qui acts as the bridge.
8
Example: le professeur qui
9
Add a Conjugated Verb: This verb describes the action performed by the antecedent. Crucially, this verb must agree in number and person with the antecedent.
10
Example: le professeur qui explique (the teacher who explains)
11
Complete the Clause: Add any objects, adverbs, or other elements.
12
Example: le professeur qui explique bien. (the teacher who explains well.)
13
Here's a table illustrating the pattern with various antecedents:
14
| Antecedent (Main Clause) | qui | Verb (conjugated) | Remaining Clause | Full Sentence (Translation) |
15
| :------------------------- | :---- | :---------------- | :------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
16
| J'ai un ami | qui | parle | trois langues. | J'ai un ami qui parle trois langues. (I have a friend who speaks three languages.) |
17
| Les livres | qui | sont | sur la table. | Les livres qui sont sur la table. (The books that are on the table.) |
18
| C'est le chien | qui | aboie | fort. | C'est le chien qui aboie fort. (That's the dog that barks loudly.) |
19
| Nous cherchons une maison | qui | a | un grand jardin. | Nous cherchons une maison qui a un grand jardin. (We are looking for a house that has a big garden.) |
20
| Tu vois les enfants | qui | jouent | dans le parc. | Tu vois les enfants qui jouent dans le parc. (You see the children who are playing in the park.) |
21
Crucial Point: No Elision with qui
22
Unlike que, which often elides to qu' before a vowel or mute h, qui never elides. It maintains its full form qui even when followed by a vowel-starting verb or h. This is a non-negotiable rule in French grammar.
23
Correct: L'homme qui arrive. (The man who is arriving.)
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Correct: La fille qui est là. (The girl who is there.)
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Incorrect: *L'homme qu'arrive.
26
Incorrect: *La fille qu'est là.
27
This consistent form simplifies its use and avoids confusion. Remember, qui's 'i' always remains.

When To Use It

Use qui in any situation requiring additional, defining information about a noun actively performing an action. It adds detail and specificity, making your French precise and vivid.
You will use qui frequently when:
  • Describing People: When you want to specify who is performing an action or what kind of person someone is.
  • J'ai une amie qui est très gentille. (I have a friend who is very kind.) – Here, qui tells us what kind of friend.
  • C'est le voisin qui aide toujours. (That's the neighbor who always helps.) – qui identifies which neighbor.
  • Je cherche quelqu'un qui parle allemand. (I'm looking for someone who speaks German.) – qui specifies the desired characteristic.
  • Describing Things and Concepts: When you want to specify which thing or what kind of thing is performing an action.
  • J'ai acheté un livre qui est très intéressant. (I bought a book that is very interesting.) – qui describes the book's quality.
  • Il y a un problème qui me préoccupe. (There's a problem that worries me.) – qui details the nature of the problem.
  • C'est une voiture qui consomme peu d'essence. (It's a car that uses little gas.) – qui outlines a feature of the car.
  • Identifying or Specifying: When you need to point out a particular item or individual from a group based on their action.
  • Regarde l'oiseau qui chante ! (Look at the bird that is singing!) – qui singles out the singing bird.
  • J'aime les films qui me font rire. (I like films that make me laugh.) – qui defines the type of films preferred.
In modern communication, qui is ubiquitous. In social media captions, you might write: Mon nouveau café préféré qui fait des merveilles. (My new favorite coffee shop that does wonders.). In a text message: J'ai vu le film qui est sorti hier. (I saw the movie that came out yesterday.).
Even in informal speech, it's essential for conversational fluidity.
The use of qui is fundamental to French speech. Unlike English, where 'that' can often be omitted, qui (or que) is rarely omitted in French relative clauses. It is indispensable for grammatical correctness and natural flow; its absence creates ungrammatical sentences.
This reflects a linguistic preference for explicit, clear connections.

Common Mistakes

Despite its seemingly simple invariant form, learners frequently make specific errors with qui. Recognizing these pitfalls is crucial for accurate and natural French.
  1. 1Elision with qui (The qu' Trap):
This is perhaps the most common and persistent error. In French, many words ending in -e or -a (like que, le, la) elide their final vowel before a word starting with a vowel or mute h. Learners often incorrectly apply this rule to qui.
  • The Rule: qui NEVER elides. The "i" always remains, regardless of the following word's initial sound.
  • Why it's wrong: qu' is the elided form of que, which has a different grammatical function (direct object relative pronoun). Confusing qui with que through elision leads to grammatical errors and alters the meaning.
  • Incorrect: *C'est l'homme qu'est grand. (implies que as an object)
  • Correct: C'est l'homme qui est grand. (That's the man who is tall.)
  • Incorrect: *Les amis qu'arrivent demain.
  • Correct: Les amis qui arrivent demain. (The friends who are arriving tomorrow.)
Remember, qui is unyielding; its i stands firm.
  1. 1Confusing qui (Subject) with que (Direct Object):
This is a crucial grammatical distinction to master for relative pronouns. qui is a subject pronoun, while que is a direct object pronoun.
  • qui = Subject: It performs the action of the verb that immediately follows it.
  • que = Direct Object: It receives the action of the verb. It is always followed by a subject (noun or pronoun) that performs the action.
  • The Distinction: Look at the word immediately following the relative pronoun.
  • If it's a verb, use qui.
  • If it's a subject (like je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles, or a specific noun), use que.
| Relative Pronoun | Followed By | Function | Example | Translation |
| :--------------- | :--------------- | :------------ | :----------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- |
| qui | Verb | Subject | Le livre qui est sur la table. | The book that is on the table. |
| que | Subject + Verb | Direct Object | Le livre que j'ai lu. | The book that I read. |
  • Error Example: *Le professeur que parle bien. (Incorrect, as parle is a verb; que implies a subject after it.)
  • Correction: Le professeur qui parle bien. (The teacher who speaks well.)
  • Error Example: *Le film qui tu regardes. (Incorrect, as tu is a subject; qui implies a verb after it.)
  • Correction: Le film que tu regardes. (The film that you are watching.)
  1. 1Forgetting the Antecedent: qui must always refer back to a specific noun or pronoun. You cannot use qui in isolation; it requires a preceding word to link to. It serves as a connector.
  1. 1Agreement of the Verb, not qui:
While qui itself is invariant, the verb that follows qui must agree in number and person with the antecedent.
  • Error Example: *Les filles qui chante. (Incorrect, chante is singular; les filles is plural.)
  • Correct: Les filles qui chantent. (The girls who sing.)
  • Error Example: *Le garçon qui aiment le football. (Incorrect, aiment is plural; le garçon is singular.)
  • Correct: Le garçon qui aime le football. (The boy who loves football.)
By being mindful of these common errors, particularly the non-elision of qui and the distinction between qui and que, you will significantly improve your accuracy and confidence when using relative pronouns.

Real Conversations

In authentic French communication, qui is a workhorse, appearing in both formal and informal contexts to clarify, specify, and add detail. Its versatility means you will encounter and use it daily across various modalities.

Informal Speech and Texting:

In casual conversation, qui helps you quickly add information without sounding formal.

- "Tu as vu le nouveau café qui a ouvert près d'ici ?" (Did you see the new coffee shop that opened near here?) – Common way to introduce something new.

- "C'est la copine de Marie qui m'a donné le conseil." (It's Marie's friend who gave me the advice.) – Clarifying who gave the advice.

- "Je cherche un restaurant qui fait de bons plats végétariens." (I'm looking for a restaurant that makes good vegetarian dishes.) – A practical request.

- In a text message: G vu le docu qui parlait de l'espace. Super intéressant! (I saw the documentary that talked about space. Super interesting!). The informal G (J'ai) maintains its grammatical structure with qui.

Social Media:

On platforms like Instagram or Twitter, qui is used to describe photos, share opinions, or comment on trends.

- Voici mon chat qui dort tranquillement. #ChatLife (Here is my cat who is sleeping peacefully. #ChatLife) – Describing a pet's action.

- Le film qui a gagné des prix est incroyable. (The movie that won awards is incredible.) – Sharing a cultural recommendation.

- Je suis avec des amis qui viennent d'arriver. (I am with friends who just arrived.) – Updating on social activities.

Emails and More Formal Settings (A1 context):

Even in slightly more formal or professional A1-level interactions (e.g., simple work emails), qui maintains its function for clarity.

- J'ai une question concernant le document qui est en pièce jointe. (I have a question concerning the document that is attached.) – Referring to an attachment.

- Nous cherchons un stagiaire qui est motivé et autonome. (We are looking for an intern who is motivated and autonomous.) – Describing desired qualities in a job posting.

- Merci à l'équipe qui a organisé cet événement. (Thanks to the team that organized this event.) – Acknowledging a group.

Understanding these varied applications demonstrates that qui is not just a theoretical grammar point but a living component of the French language, essential for connecting with native speakers and expressing yourself accurately in diverse situations.

Quick FAQ

Here are concise answers to common questions about qui.
  • Q: Does qui always mean "who"?
  • A: No. qui translates to "who" when referring to people, and "which" or "that" when referring to things or abstract concepts. Its meaning depends on its antecedent.
  • Q: Can I use qui for animals?
  • A: Absolutely. Animals are treated grammatically like things when using qui, so it means "which" or "that." Example: Mon chat qui dort. (My cat that is sleeping.)
  • Q: Does qui change if the noun it refers to is plural?
  • A: No. qui itself is invariant; it never changes its spelling for gender or number. However, the verb that follows qui must agree with the plural antecedent. Example: Les étudiants qui lisent. (The students who are reading.)
  • Q: Is qui used only in formal French?
  • A: Not at all. qui is fundamental to both formal and informal French. You will hear and use it constantly in everyday conversations, texts, emails, and even academic writing.
  • Q: Can I omit qui like "that" in English (e.g., "The book I read")?
  • A: Never. In French, the relative pronoun (qui or que) is mandatory. Omitting it creates an ungrammatical sentence. You must always say Le livre qui est... or Le livre que j'ai.... It serves as the essential link.
  • Q: What if the verb following qui starts with a vowel? Does qui become qu'?
  • A: No. This is a very common mistake. qui never elides. It always remains qui, even before vowels. Example: L'homme qui arrive. (The man who is arriving.)
  • Q: Does qui always refer to the immediately preceding noun?
  • A: Generally, yes. qui typically refers to the noun or pronoun directly before it. For A1 learners, assume it always refers to the immediate predecessor.

Relative Pronoun Structure

Noun Relative Pronoun Verb
Le garçon
qui
mange
La fille
qui
chante
Les livres
qui
sont
L'ami
qui
travaille
La voiture
qui
roule
Les gens
qui
parlent

Meanings

The relative pronoun 'qui' acts as the subject of a relative clause, meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'.

1

Subjective Relative

Connecting a noun to a verb it performs.

“L'ami qui habite ici.”

“La voiture qui roule vite.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + qui + Verb
L'homme qui rit.
Negative
Noun + qui + ne + Verb + pas
L'homme qui ne rit pas.
Question
Qui + est + Noun + qui + Verb ?
Qui est l'homme qui rit ?
Plural
Nouns + qui + Verb
Les hommes qui rient.
Object
Noun + qui + Verb
Le vélo qui est bleu.
Person
Noun + qui + Verb
La femme qui danse.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
L'homme qui mange.

L'homme qui mange. (Describing someone)

Neutral
L'homme qui mange.

L'homme qui mange. (Describing someone)

Informal
Le mec qui mange.

Le mec qui mange. (Describing someone)

Slang
Le gars qui bouffe.

Le gars qui bouffe. (Describing someone)

The Qui Bridge

Qui

Function

  • Subject Subject

Followed by

  • Verb Verb
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Examples by Level

1

L'homme qui mange.

The man who is eating.

2

La fille qui danse.

The girl who is dancing.

3

Le chien qui court.

The dog that is running.

4

Le livre qui est ici.

The book that is here.

1

C'est l'ami qui m'aide.

It's the friend who helps me.

2

La voiture qui est rouge.

The car that is red.

3

Qui est la femme qui parle ?

Who is the woman who is speaking?

4

Le film qui n'est pas bon.

The movie that is not good.

1

Les étudiants qui étudient réussissent.

The students who study succeed.

2

C'est une situation qui m'inquiète.

It's a situation that worries me.

3

Le projet qui a été fini hier.

The project that was finished yesterday.

4

La personne qui a téléphoné est partie.

The person who called has left.

1

Il cherche un candidat qui possède de l'expérience.

He is looking for a candidate who possesses experience.

2

C'est une règle qui s'applique à tous.

It's a rule that applies to everyone.

3

Les facteurs qui influencent le climat.

The factors that influence the climate.

4

Une décision qui a changé sa vie.

A decision that changed his life.

1

C'est une théorie qui, bien que complexe, est fascinante.

It's a theory that, although complex, is fascinating.

2

Il a écrit un livre qui a bouleversé le public.

He wrote a book that shook the public.

3

La loi qui régit ces échanges est ancienne.

The law that governs these exchanges is ancient.

4

Une organisation qui prône la liberté.

An organization that advocates for freedom.

1

Le poète qui, par ses vers, a captivé la nation.

The poet who, through his verses, captivated the nation.

2

Une structure qui, en son essence, demeure inchangée.

A structure that, in its essence, remains unchanged.

3

Les forces qui, sournoisement, minent la stabilité.

The forces that, insidiously, undermine stability.

4

C'est un phénomène qui, historiquement, se répète.

It's a phenomenon that, historically, repeats itself.

Easily Confused

French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that) vs Qui vs Que

Learners often use 'que' when they should use 'qui' because they don't check if the next word is a verb.

French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that) vs Qui vs Dont

Learners use 'qui' for everything, even when possession or 'de' is needed.

French Subject Pronoun: 'qui' (who/that) vs Qui vs Lequel

Learners use 'qui' after prepositions like 'avec' or 'pour'.

Common Mistakes

✗

L'homme qui il mange.

✓

L'homme qui mange.

Qui is the subject, don't repeat the pronoun.
✗

Le livre que est ici.

✓

Le livre qui est ici.

Use qui before a verb.
✗

La fille qui je vois.

✓

La fille que je vois.

Use que before a subject pronoun.
✗

Le chien qui il court.

✓

Le chien qui court.

Redundant subject pronoun.
✗

La femme qui parle avec lui.

✓

La femme qui parle avec lui.

Correct, but ensure no extra subject.
✗

C'est le train qui va à Paris.

✓

C'est le train qui va à Paris.

Correct usage.
✗

Le garçon qui mange la pomme.

✓

Le garçon qui mange la pomme.

Correct.
✗

L'idée qui je pense.

✓

L'idée à laquelle je pense.

Qui is for subjects, not objects of prepositions.
✗

Le film qui j'ai vu.

✓

Le film que j'ai vu.

Use que for direct objects.
✗

La personne qui je parle.

✓

La personne à qui je parle.

Need preposition for indirect objects.
✗

Le livre qui j'ai lu.

✓

Le livre que j'ai lu.

Direct object requires que.
✗

La dame qui je connais.

✓

La dame que je connais.

Direct object.
✗

Le projet qui nous travaillons.

✓

Le projet sur lequel nous travaillons.

Qui is not for prepositional objects.

Sentence Patterns

C'est le/la ___ qui ___.

Je cherche quelqu'un qui ___.

C'est une situation qui ___.

Les gens qui ___ sont ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Voici la personne qui a gagné le concours !

Texting very common

C'est l'ami qui arrive.

Job Interviews common

Je suis quelqu'un qui aime travailler en équipe.

Travel common

Quel est le bus qui va au centre-ville ?

Food Delivery occasional

C'est le livreur qui est devant la porte.

Academic Writing very common

Les théories qui expliquent ce phénomène.

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💡

Check the Verb

Always look at the word immediately following the blank. If it's a verb, 99% of the time it's 'qui'.
⚠️

No Redundant Pronouns

Don't say 'L'homme qui il mange'. The 'qui' is already the subject!
🎯

Qui for Objects

Don't be afraid to use 'qui' for objects. It's not just for people!
💬

Natural Flow

Using 'qui' makes your French sound much more natural and less like a beginner.

Smart Tips

Immediately use 'qui'.

Le chien mange. → Le chien qui mange.

Use 'que' instead of 'qui'.

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

Use 'qui' to add a descriptive action.

C'est mon ami. Il est gentil. → C'est mon ami qui est gentil.

Use 'qui' to be precise.

Le projet est fini. Le projet est important. → Le projet qui est fini est important.

Pronunciation

/ki/

Qui

Pronounced like 'key'.

Rising intonation

Qui est la fille qui chante ? ↑

Used for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Qui is the key to the verb. If you see a verb, use 'qui'!

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge labeled 'QUI' connecting a person to an action. The person is on one side, the verb is on the other.

Rhyme

If the verb is near, use 'qui' to make it clear.

Story

Meet 'Qui', the friendly connector. He loves verbs. He stands right next to them, holding hands. Whenever he sees a noun, he runs to it and says, 'I'll connect you to your action!'

Word Web

SujetVerbeRelatifLienPhraseAction

Challenge

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

Cultural Notes

Used universally in all registers.

Similar usage, but often combined with 'que' in casual speech.

Standard French usage applies.

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

Conversation Starters

“

Qui est la personne qui t'aide le plus ?

“

Quel est le film qui t'a fait pleurer ?

“

Quelles sont les qualités qui sont importantes pour toi ?

“

Peux-tu décrire une invention qui a changé le monde ?

Journal Prompts

Décris ton meilleur ami.
Parle d'un objet que tu aimes.
Décris ton travail ou tes études.
Raconte un souvenir qui a changé ta vie.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

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

Le garçon ___ mange est mon frère.

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

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'homme qui parle.
No redundant subject pronoun.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La fille qui elle chante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui chante.
Remove the redundant 'elle'.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Transformation

Le livre est sur la table. Le livre est bleu. (Use qui)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre qui est sur la table est bleu.
Qui connects the noun to the verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qui est cette personne ? B: C'est l'étudiant ___ apprend le français.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Order the words. Sentence Building

qui / mange / le / garçon / la / pomme

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le garçon qui mange la pomme.
Noun + qui + verb.
Sort into 'qui' or 'que'. Grammar Sorting

Le livre ___ je lis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Followed by a subject pronoun 'je'.
Match the noun with the correct verb. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

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

Le garçon ___ mange est mon frère.

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

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'homme qui parle.
No redundant subject pronoun.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La fille qui elle chante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui chante.
Remove the redundant 'elle'.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Transformation

Le livre est sur la table. Le livre est bleu. (Use qui)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre qui est sur la table est bleu.
Qui connects the noun to the verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qui est cette personne ? B: C'est l'étudiant ___ apprend le français.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.
Order the words. Sentence Building

qui / mange / le / garçon / la / pomme

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le garçon qui mange la pomme.
Noun + qui + verb.
Sort into 'qui' or 'que'. Grammar Sorting

Le livre ___ je lis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Followed by a subject pronoun 'je'.
Match the noun with the correct verb. Match Pairs

Le chat ___ dort.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Followed by a verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence with qui or que. Fill in the Blank

C'est une ville ____ j'aime beaucoup.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: que
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

chante / le / J'aime / garçon / qui

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'aime le garçon qui chante.
Translate to French. Translation

The girl who is here is my sister.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fille qui est ici est ma sœur.
Match the start of the sentence with the correct ending. Match Pairs

Match the halves:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le gâteau + qui est délicieux.
Fix the pronoun usage. Error Correction

J'ai des amis qu'habitent à Paris.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai des amis qui habitent à Paris.
Which one uses 'qui' correctly? Multiple Choice

Pick the right one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'ordinateur qui ne marche pas.
Subject or Object? Fill in the Blank

Où sont les clés ____ ouvrent cette porte ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Translate this text message. Translation

I see a cat that is eating a bird.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je vois un chat qui mange un oiseau.
Build the question. Sentence Reorder

est / qui / Qui / l'homme / parle ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Qui est l'homme qui parle ?
Identify the correct relative clause. Multiple Choice

Which describes a car that is red?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La voiture qui est rouge.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, 'qui' means 'who', 'which', or 'that'. It is used for both people and things.

Because 'qui' is the subject. You don't need to repeat the subject pronoun.

Use 'que' when the next word is a noun or pronoun, not a verb.

No, it's used in all registers, from casual texting to formal writing.

No, use 'lequel' or 'laquelle' after prepositions.

No, 'qui' is invariant. It doesn't change for gender or number.

The rule stays the same: 'Le garçon qui ne mange pas'.

Yes, 'Qui est la personne qui parle ?'

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

que / quien

French 'qui' covers both 'que' and 'quien' in most subject contexts.

German moderate

der / die / das

French 'qui' does not change for gender or number.

English high

who / that

French 'qui' is used for both people and things.

Japanese low

no / clause modification

Japanese has no direct equivalent to a relative pronoun like 'qui'.

Arabic moderate

alladhi / allati

French 'qui' is gender-neutral.

Chinese low

de

Chinese uses a particle, not a pronoun.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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

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