Whatever & Whoever (Quoi que / Qui que)
quoi que or qui que followed by the subjunctive to say something doesn't matter, no matter what/who.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'quoi que' (whatever) and 'qui que' (whoever) followed by the subjunctive to express that something is true regardless of the outcome.
- Use 'Quoi que' + subjunctive for things: Quoi que tu fasses, je t'aime. (Whatever you do, I love you.)
- Use 'Qui que' + subjunctive for people: Qui que tu sois, entre. (Whoever you are, come in.)
- Always use the subjunctive mood after these expressions, as the outcome is uncertain or irrelevant.
Overview
French grammar employs specific constructions to express the idea of "no matter what" or "no matter who." These are primarily conveyed through the expressions quoi que (whatever, no matter what) and qui que (whoever, no matter who). These phrases are essential for expressing indifference to choice, uncertainty, or hypothetical situations regarding a person or an action. Unlike simple declarative statements, they introduce a degree of indefiniteness that triggers the use of the subjunctive mood in French.
Mastering quoi que and qui que allows you to articulate concepts of generality and concession, elevating your French to a more nuanced B1 level where you can navigate discussions about possibilities and uncertainties.
At its core, quoi que refers to actions, situations, or inanimate objects, emphasizing that the specific nature of the what does not alter the outcome or relevance of the main clause. Qui que, conversely, is used exclusively for people, indicating that the identity of the who is irrelevant or unknown in relation to the main idea. These constructions are not merely stylistic choices but grammatical necessities that reflect a fundamental aspect of French expression concerning non-factual or undetermined realities.
Ignoring the subjunctive with these phrases constitutes a significant grammatical error, akin to incorrect verb conjugation in simpler sentences, hindering clarity and sounding unnatural to native speakers. For instance, Quoi que tu fasses, je serai fier de toi (Whatever you do, I will be proud of you) conveys a broad, unconditional pride, irrespective of the specific action.
How This Grammar Works
Quoi que and qui que function as conjunctive phrases that introduce a subordinate clause. The defining characteristic of these clauses is their inherent indefiniteness. When you state quoi que or qui que, you are deliberately leaving the subject or action of the subordinate clause unspecified or generalized.quoi que or qui que. For example, in Qui que tu sois, entre ! (Whoever you are, come in!), the command to come in is valid for any person, regardless of their identity. The identity tu sois is unknown or treated as variable, hence the subjunctive sois.Quoi qu'il arrive, je resterai calme (Whatever happens, I will remain calm) frames the event (il arrive) as a possibility, not a certainty, thus requiring the subjunctive arrive.what or who specifically, you would use a relative pronoun with the indicative mood. For instance, Ce que tu fais est important (What you are doing is important) refers to a known, factual action. However, Quoi que tu fasses, c'est important (Whatever you do, it's important) generalizes this, suggesting that any action undertaken by you holds importance.Formation Pattern
quoi que and qui que follows a consistent and predictable structure. It always involves the conjunctive phrase, followed by a subject, and then a verb conjugated in the subjunctive mood. The placement of the subject can sometimes vary, especially in more formal contexts or with inverted structures.
Quoi que / Qui que | Subject | Verb (Subjunctive Mood) | Rest of the clause |
Quoi qu' | Vowel/h-muet | Verb (Subjunctive Mood) | Rest of the clause |
Quoi que / Qui que: These are the invariable starting points. Quoi que refers to things or actions, while qui que refers to people. Remember the apostrophe (qu') before a word starting with a vowel or a silent h. For example, Quoi qu'il dise (Whatever he says) or Qui qu'elle soit (Whoever she may be).
quoi que or qui que.
ils/elles form of the present indicative, remove the -ent ending, and add the subjunctive endings (-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent). Irregular verbs like être, avoir, faire, aller, savoir, and pouvoir have their own irregular subjunctive forms.
être and avoir:
être (to be) | avoir (to have) |
que je | sois | aie |
que tu | sois | aies |
qu'il/elle/on | soit | ait |
que nous| soyons | ayons |
que vous| soyez | ayez |
qu'ils/elles | soient | aient |
Quoi que tu cherches, tu le trouveras ici. (Whatever you are looking for, you will find it here.)
Qui qu'ils soient, ils doivent respecter les règles. (Whoever they are, they must respect the rules.)
Quoi qu'il en coûte, nous devons terminer ce projet. (Whatever the cost, we must finish this project.)
qui que is Qui que ce soit, which translates to "Whoever it may be." It's often used impersonally: Qui que ce soit qui vienne, ne l'ouvrez pas. (Whoever comes, don't open it.)
When To Use It
- 1Expressing Unconditional Concession or Flexibility: When you want to convey that something is acceptable or true, regardless of the variable introduced. This often implies a sense of acceptance or broad applicability.
Quoi que tu décides, je te soutiendrai.(Whatever you decide, I will support you.) – Here, the support is unconditional, irrespective of the decision taken.Qui que vous rencontriez, soyez poli.(Whoever you meet, be polite.) – The politeness applies to any person encountered.
- 1Highlighting Indifference or Resignation: When the speaker implies that the specific choice or identity has no bearing on a predetermined or inevitable outcome, often with a hint of fatalism or frustration.
Quoi qu'il fasse, elle ne sera jamais satisfaite.(Whatever he does, she will never be satisfied.) – The outcome (her dissatisfaction) is fixed, regardless of his actions.Qui que ce soit à la porte, je ne veux pas ouvrir.(Whoever it is at the door, I don't want to open.) – The speaker's unwillingness to open applies to anyone.
- 1Referring to Unknown or Hypothetical Entities/Actions: When the identity of a person or the nature of an action is truly unknown or exists only as a possibility.
Nous devons être prêts quoi que l'avenir nous réserve.(We must be ready whatever the future holds for us.) – The future's events are unknown, hence hypothetical.La récompense ira à qui que la mérite.(The reward will go to whoever deserves it.) – The specific deserving person is not yet identified.
quoi que or qui que with the subjunctive, rather than indicative structures like ce que or celui qui.Common Mistakes
quoi que and qui que. Awareness of these common errors is paramount for accurate and natural expression.- 1Confusion between
quoi que(two words) andquoique(one word): This is arguably the most common and persistent error. While both often take the subjunctive, their meanings are distinct.
Quoi que(two words) means "whatever" / "no matter what". It introduces an indefinite choice or situation.- Example:
Quoi que tu dises, je ne te crois pas.(Whatever you say, I don't believe you.) Quoique(one word) means "although" / "even though". It introduces a concession, contrasting two ideas.- Example:
Quoique tu aies raison, je ne peux pas accepter.(Although you are right, I cannot accept.)
Quoi que can often be rephrased with quelle que soit la chose que (whatever the thing is that...). Quoique introduces a statement that is true but surprising given the main clause. Pay close attention to the space; it changes the meaning completely.- 1Failure to use the Subjunctive Mood: As emphasized, the subjunctive is obligatory with
quoi queandqui que. Using the indicative mood is a grammatical error that immediately flags a non-native speaker. The reason for this error often stems from the learner's tendency to directly translate from English, where
Formation Pattern
| Structure | Mood | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Quoi que + Subject
|
Subjunctive
|
Quoi que tu fasses
|
|
Qui que + Subject
|
Subjunctive
|
Qui que tu sois
|
|
Quoi que + ce soit
|
Subjunctive
|
Quoi que ce soit
|
|
Qui que + ce soit
|
Subjunctive
|
Qui que ce soit
|
Common Elisions
| Full | Elided | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
Quoi que il
|
Quoi qu'il
|
Before vowels
|
|
Qui que il
|
Qui qu'il
|
Before vowels
|
Meanings
These expressions introduce a concessive clause, indicating that the main action remains valid regardless of the identity of the person or the nature of the thing.
Whatever (Things)
Regardless of what thing.
“Quoi que tu manges, c'est bon.”
“Quoi qu'il arrive, nous serons prêts.”
Whoever (People)
Regardless of which person.
“Qui que ce soit, ne lui ouvrez pas.”
“Qui que tu sois, tu es le bienvenu.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Quoi que + Subj
|
Quoi que tu dises
|
|
Affirmative
|
Qui que + Subj
|
Qui que tu sois
|
|
Negative
|
Quoi que + ne...pas
|
Quoi que tu ne fasses pas
|
|
Question
|
Qui que ce soit qui...?
|
Qui que ce soit qui vienne?
|
|
Idiom
|
Quoi qu'il en soit
|
Whatever the case
|
|
Idiom
|
Qui que ce soit
|
Whoever it is
|
Formality Spectrum
Quoi que vous fassiez, je suis là. (Support)
Quoi que tu fasses, je suis là. (Support)
Quoi que tu fasses, je suis là. (Support)
Quoi que tu fasses, j'suis là. (Support)
Concessive Pronouns
Things
- Quoi que Whatever
People
- Qui que Whoever
Examples by Level
Quoi que tu fasses, c'est bien.
Whatever you do, it's good.
Qui que tu sois, entre.
Whoever you are, come in.
Quoi que tu dises, je t'écoute.
Whatever you say, I am listening.
Qui que ce soit, c'est mon ami.
Whoever it is, he is my friend.
Quoi que vous mangiez, c'est délicieux.
Whatever you eat, it's delicious.
Qui que vous soyez, vous devez attendre.
Whoever you are, you must wait.
Quoi qu'il arrive, je reste ici.
Whatever happens, I am staying here.
Qui que ce soit qui appelle, ne réponds pas.
Whoever is calling, don't answer.
Quoi que tu aies décidé, je respecte ton choix.
Whatever you have decided, I respect your choice.
Qui que tu puisses rencontrer, sois poli.
Whoever you might meet, be polite.
Quoi que nous fassions, le résultat est le même.
Whatever we do, the result is the same.
Qui que ce soit, il doit payer l'amende.
Whoever it is, he must pay the fine.
Quoi que vous puissiez penser, la vérité est ailleurs.
Whatever you might think, the truth is elsewhere.
Qui que ce soit qui ait écrit ce rapport, il est excellent.
Whoever wrote this report, it is excellent.
Quoi qu'il en soit, nous devons avancer.
Whatever the case may be, we must move forward.
Qui que vous soyez, vous ne pouvez pas entrer sans badge.
Whoever you are, you cannot enter without a badge.
Quoi que l'avenir nous réserve, nous resterons unis.
Whatever the future holds for us, we will remain united.
Qui que ce soit qui prétende le contraire, les faits sont là.
Whoever claims the opposite, the facts are there.
Quoi que vous entrepreniez, faites-le avec passion.
Whatever you undertake, do it with passion.
Qui que ce soit qui soit responsable, il sera puni.
Whoever is responsible, he will be punished.
Quoi que pussent être ses intentions, l'acte fut jugé sévèrement.
Whatever his intentions might have been, the act was judged severely.
Qui que ce soit qui ait pu proférer de telles menaces, il sera traqué.
Whoever might have uttered such threats, he will be hunted down.
Quoi que l'on puisse dire, le changement est inévitable.
Whatever one might say, change is inevitable.
Qui que ce soit qui se présente, refusez l'accès.
Whoever shows up, refuse access.
Easily Confused
They look identical except for the space.
Both mean 'whatever'.
Learners often use indicative after these.
Common Mistakes
Quoi que tu fais
Quoi que tu fasses
Qui que tu es
Qui que tu sois
Quoi que il arrive
Quoi qu'il arrive
Quoique tu fasses
Quoi que tu fasses
Qui que ce soit qui vient
Qui que ce soit qui vienne
Quoi que vous dites
Quoi que vous disiez
Qui que tu sois, tu es beau
Qui que tu sois, sois beau
Quoi que tu aurais fait
Quoi que tu aies fait
Qui que ça soit
Qui que ce soit
Quoi que le problème soit
Quel que soit le problème
Quoi que pût être
Quoi que pût être (correct, but rare)
Qui que ce soit qui aurait pu
Qui que ce soit qui ait pu
Quoi que l'on dit
Quoi que l'on dise
Qui que ce soit qui est venu
Qui que ce soit qui soit venu
Sentence Patterns
Quoi que tu ___, je t'aiderai.
Qui que tu ___, sois toi-même.
Quoi que ce soit qui ___, c'est important.
Quoi qu'il ___, nous resterons calmes.
Real World Usage
Quoi que vous disiez, je ne changerai pas d'avis.
Quoi qu'il arrive, on se voit demain.
Quoi que vous décidiez, je suis prêt.
Qui que ce soit qui vous aide, donnez un pourboire.
Quoi que vous commandiez, c'est bon.
Quoi que l'on puisse affirmer, les preuves sont claires.
The 'Subjunctive' Rule
Don't confuse with 'Quoique'
Use 'ce soit'
Register matters
Smart Tips
Use 'Quoi que' + subjunctive.
Use 'Qui que' + subjunctive.
Check if you can replace it with 'bien que'.
Add 'ce soit'.
Pronunciation
Elision
Always elide 'quoi' and 'qui' before a vowel.
Concessive rise
Quoi que tu fasses ↗, je reste ↘.
The rise indicates the condition, the fall indicates the conclusion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Quoi is for 'Quoi' (What), Qui is for 'Qui' (Who). Both need the Subjunctive mood to be true!
Visual Association
Imagine a person standing in the rain (Qui que) and a pile of random objects (Quoi que). No matter who or what they are, they are all getting wet!
Rhyme
Quoi que ou Qui que, le subjonctif est le roi, pour exprimer la concession, c'est la loi.
Story
A king says: 'Whoever enters (Qui que tu sois) must bow. Whatever you bring (Quoi que tu apportes), it must be a gift.' The guards follow these rules strictly.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences using 'Quoi que' and 3 using 'Qui que' about your day.
Cultural Notes
Used in formal debates and political discourse.
Often replaced by 'peu importe' in casual speech.
Used in formal administrative writing.
Derived from the relative pronoun 'quoi' and 'qui' combined with the conjunction 'que'.
Conversation Starters
Quoi que tu fasses ce week-end, est-ce que tu seras heureux?
Qui que ce soit qui gagne l'élection, qu'est-ce qui va changer?
Quoi qu'il arrive, quel est ton plan?
Qui que tu puisses inviter, qui serait ton invité idéal?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Quoi que tu (faire) ____, je t'aime.
____ que tu sois, entre.
Find and fix the mistake:
Quoi que tu dis est faux.
Peu importe ce que tu fais.
Quoi que always requires the subjunctive.
A: Qui dois-je inviter? B: ____.
tu / que / Quoi / fasses / , / je / t'aiderai
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesQuoi que tu (faire) ____, je t'aime.
____ que tu sois, entre.
Find and fix the mistake:
Quoi que tu dis est faux.
Peu importe ce que tu fais.
Quoi que always requires the subjunctive.
A: Qui dois-je inviter? B: ____.
tu / que / Quoi / fasses / , / je / t'aiderai
Quoi que / Qui que
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises____ tu dises, je ne te crois pas.
fasses / tu / Quoi / que / , / bien / c'est
Whoever you are.
Which phrase means 'Whatever he buys'?
Match the pairs:
Quoi que vous vouliez, c'est impossible.
____ vous soyez, vous devez partir.
No matter what happens.
Which sentence fits a TikTok context?
vous / Qui / soyez / que / , / entrez
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Because the outcome is uncertain or indefinite.
No, it is grammatically incorrect.
No, 'quoique' means 'although'.
Use 'quel que' for adjectives/nouns.
It can be used in both formal and neutral contexts.
Yes, it is common in texting.
You must still conjugate it in the subjunctive.
Write sentences about your daily life.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cualquiera que / Lo que sea
Spanish uses 'cualquiera' for people, while French uses 'qui que'.
Was auch immer / Wer auch immer
German relies on particles rather than mood changes.
～ても (temo)
Japanese uses verb conjugation suffixes instead of pronouns.
مهما (Mahma) / أي شخص (Ay shakhs)
Arabic uses specific particles that do not change the verb mood.
无论 (Wúlùn)
Chinese has no verb conjugation, so the verb remains the same.
Whatever / Whoever
English lacks the subjunctive mood requirement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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