La Francophonie+

Le pronom relatifqui, que

Le pronom relatif

Relative Pronouns are used to connect two independent clauses. Once they are connected, the second clause is called the subordinate clause.

In French, a clause is “une proposition.” The main clause is the “proposition principale” and the subordinate clause is the “proposition subordonnée.”

The cat is on the table. The cat is black. The cat THAT is on the table is black.

You read the book. The book was long. The book THAT you read was long.

Le pronom relatif

In French, we use QUI when we are replacing the subject of the subordinate clause with a relative pronoun.

The cat is on the table. The cat is black. The cat THAT is on the table is black.

Le chat est sur la table. Le chat est noir. Le chat QUI est sur la table est noir. (“Cat” is the subject of the subordinate clause, so we use QUI.)

Le pronom relatif

In French, we use QUE when we are replacing an object of the subordinate clause with a relative pronoun.

You read the book. The book was long. The book THAT you read was long. (“Book” is not the subject of the subordinate clause--“you” is!)

Vouz avez lu le livre. Le livre était long. Le livre QUE vous avez lu était long. (Since “livre” is the object of the subordinate clause, we use QUE.)

Le pronom relatif

A quick and dirty way to remember this is that:

QUI is always followed by a verb

QUE is always followed by a noun + a verb

J’aime les étudiants qui font leurs devoirs. (Who does the homework? “Les étudiants” do, so they are the subject.)

Les devoirs que vous avez faits étaient difficiles. (“Devoirs” is the object of “vous avez faits,” so we use QUE.)

Le pronom relatif

When you use QUE with the passé composé, the past participle must agree in number and gender with what you are replacing. (Just like with direct object pronouns.)

J’ai achetée la voiture. Je l’ai achetée.

J’aime bien la voiture QUE vous avez achetée.