When you want to say "what" or "that which" and it's the subject of the clause, you need to use ce qui. It refers to an unspecified thing or idea. Think of it as replacing "the thing that."
For example, if you say "What is important is...", you'd use Ce qui est important, c'est.... It's always followed by a conjugated verb. Don't confuse it with "ce que," which is used when "what" is the direct object.
How Formal Is It?
"Dites-moi, s'il vous plaît, ce qui vous plaît le plus dans cette proposition."
"Dis-moi ce qui te ferait plaisir pour ton anniversaire."
"C'qu'y est bien, c'est qu'on a le temps."
"Montre-moi ce qui brille dans la boîte."
"Tu vois c'qui s'passe là?"
Test Yourself 18 questions
This sentence uses 'ce qui' to introduce the subject of what is interesting.
'Ce qui' acts as the subject of the verb 'se passe'.
Here, 'ce qui' is the subject of the verb 't'inquiète'.
Il ne sait pas ___ le retient ici. (He doesn't know what keeps him here.)
We use 'ce qui' when 'what' is the subject of the following verb. Here, 'ce qui' is the subject of 'retient'.
___ me plaît le plus, c'est sa gentillesse. (What I like the most is her kindness.)
Here, 'ce qui' acts as the subject of the verb 'plaît'.
Dites-moi ___ vous préoccupe. (Tell me what worries you.)
'Ce qui' is the subject of 'préoccupe'.
___ est étonnant, c'est son calme face à la situation. (What is surprising is his calm in the face of the situation.)
'Ce qui' is the subject of 'est étonnant'.
Je ne comprends pas ___ t'a poussé à faire ça. (I don't understand what pushed you to do that.)
'Ce qui' is the subject of 't'a poussé'.
Expliquez-moi ___ s'est passé hier soir. (Explain to me what happened last night.)
'Ce qui' is the subject of 's'est passé'.
Il faut se concentrer sur ___ nous unit, pas sur ___ nous divise.
'Ce qui' is used because 'nous unit' and 'nous divise' are verbs, and 'ce qui' acts as the subject of these verbs.
Le scandale, ___ a éclaté hier, a provoqué de vives réactions.
'Ce qui' is the subject of the verb 'a éclaté' and refers to 'le scandale', making it the correct choice.
Elle n'a pas voulu dire ___ la dérangeait vraiment.
'La dérangeait' is a verb, and 'ce qui' functions as its subject, referring to the unspecified thing bothering her.
Ce n'est pas ___ tu dis, mais plutôt ___ tu fais, qui compte.
'Ce que tu dis' uses 'ce que' because 'tu dis' has a direct object 'ce'. 'Ce qui compte' uses 'ce qui' because 'compte' is a verb and 'ce qui' is its subject.
Peu importe ___ arrivera, nous devons rester unis.
'Arrivera' is an impersonal verb here, and 'ce qui' functions as its subject, referring to the unspecified event.
Dites-moi ___ vous préoccupe le plus en ce moment.
'Vous préoccupe' is a verb construction where 'ce qui' acts as the subject causing the preoccupation.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
Related Phrases
More general words
à cause de
A2Because of; on account of (a neutral or negative cause).
à côté
A2Next to; beside.
à côté de
A2Next to, beside.
À droite
A2To the right; on the right side.
À gauche
A2To the left; on the left side.
à la
A2To the (feminine singular), indicates direction or location.
à laquelle
B2To which; at which (feminine singular).
à mesure que
B2As; while; in proportion as.
abrégé
B1An abstract, summary, or abridgment.
absence
A2The state of being away from a place or person.
