Relative clauses
Relative clauses are a special type of dependent clause. They follow a main clause or are sometimes embedded in the main clause, and they are always introduced by a relative pronoun such as qui (who/that) or que (whom/that). A relative pronoun refers to someone or something previously mentioned or understood by those who are communicating. That someone or something can be anoun or another pronoun.
Relative clauses
Remember that a dependent clause needs a main clause to communicate its whole meaning. Relative pronouns serve as links to create longer, complex sentences. Consider the following sentence, which includes a main clause and a relative clause. Note that in the English sentence the relative pronoun may be implied, whereas in the French sentence it must be expressed.
The main clause of this sentence (the one that would make sense by itself) is:
In this main clause, you can identify:
The subject: le gâteau (also the antecedent of the relative pronoun que)
The verb: s’appelle
The attribute of the noun gâteau: Kougelhopf
Just as in English, a French relative pronoun links a dependent relative clause (a clause that cannot stand alone) to a main clause. In the previous example sentence, the dependent relative clause is:
In this dependent relative clause, you can identify:
The relative pronoun: que
The subject of the verb in the dependent relative clause: je
The verb: prépare
Underline the relative clause in each of the following sentences and then translate the entire sentence into English.
1. La moto qui est garée là est à moi.
2. La voiture que je veux acheter est chère.
3. Le vendeur qui m’a fait la démonstration est super sympa.
4. Les clients qu’il a aidés sont satisfaits.
5. La couleur que je préférerais est le rouge.
6. Les options que j’aimerais sont le lecteur de CD et le toit décapotable.
Relative clauses introduced by qui or que
A relative pronoun always introduces a dependent clause called a relative clause. Within that clause, the pronoun performs a variety of functions such as subject, object of the verb, and object of a preposition. According to its function, the relative pronoun will take on different forms. The most frequently used relative pronouns in French are que and qui. Their English equivalents can be who, whom, that,and which.
Using the relative pronoun qui
This relative pronoun performs the function of subject regardless of whether it stands for a person or a thing. When qui refers to a person, it is translated as who. When qui refers to a thing, it is translated as that or which. The word that the relative pronoun relates or connects to is called the antecedent. Consider the following examples. Note that in each sentence, the relative pronoun qui is the subject of the dependent verb.
main clause + relative clause
Je connais les gens + qui habitent ici.
I know the people who live here.
In this sentence, les gens is the direct object of the main verb connais. It is replaced by the relative pronoun qui in the relative clause that follows it.
In this sentence, la balle is the direct object of the main verb cherche. It is replaced by the relative pronoun qui in the relative clause that follows it.
Similarly, in the following sentences, the relative pronoun qui replaces the direct object of the main clause (légumes verts/René/portable, respectively) and qui is the subject of the verb in the relative clause. Remember that qui may replace a thing or a person.
In the following examples, the subject of the main clause is the antecedent of the relative pronoun. In this case, the relative clause does not follow the main clause; it is embedded in the main clause.
subject of main clause + relative clause + predicate of main clause
L’avion + qui vient d’atterrir + est en retard.
The plane that just landed is late.
In this sentence, it is L’avion, subject of the main verb est, that is being elaborated upon in the relative clause. The relative clause introduced by qui is therefore embedded in the main clause.
Similarly, in the following sentences, the relative clauses introduced by qui are embedded in their respective main clauses because they elaborate on the subject in the main clause:
On the lines provided, write the letter of the relative clause that best completes each sentence.
Using the relative pronoun que
The relative pronoun that performs the function of direct object regardless of whether it refers to a person or thing is que. When que refers to a person, it is translated as whom. When it refers to a thing, it is translated as that or which. Whether it refers to a person or an object, it may be implied and omitted in the English sentence but never in the French sentence. Consider the following sentences. Note that in each sentence the relative pronoun is the direct object of the dependent verb. As noted in the previous section, the relative clause may follow the main clause or be embedded within the main clause.
main clause + relative clause
Je vois la dame + que j’ai rencontrée ce matin.
I see the lady (whom) I met this morning.
In the previous example, the main clause contains the antecedent of the relative pronoun que. The antecedent of the relative pronoun is the what or the who being replaced by que in the relative clause—in this case la dame is the antecedent.
In the next example, the relative pronoun que replaces its antecedent le film.
Similarly, in each of the following sentences, the relative pronoun que replaces its antecedent regardless of whether it is a thing or a person (amis/cadeaux/chat). Note also that que is the direct object of the verb in the relative clause.
In the following examples, the subject of the main clause is the antecedent of the relative pronoun. In this case, the relative clause does not follow the main clause; it is embedded in the main clause.
subject of main clause + relative clause + predicate of main clause
L’assistante + que le professeur a demandée + est arrivée.
The assistant (that) the teacher asked for has arrived.
In the previous sentence, l’assistante is the subject of the main verb est arrivée. It is that subject that is being elaborated upon in the relative clause introduced by que. Therefore the relative clause is embedded in the main clause.
Similarly, in the next example, le cahier is the subject of the main verb est. Le cahier is the antecedent of the relative pronoun, the what or the who being replaced in the relative clause. Note that the relative pronoun que is the direct object of the verb as oublié.
Now consider the following sentences. Once again the relative clauses are embedded in the main clauses because they elaborate upon the subject of the main verb. In addition, note that the relative pronoun que is the direct object of the verb in the relative clause.
On the lines provided, write the letter of the relative clause that best completes each sentence.
Fill in the blanks with qui or que/qu’ to complete each sentence.
1. La carte _______________________ vient d’arriver est une invitation de mariage.
2. C’est Monique _______________________ nous a envoyé l’invitation.
3. L’adresse _______________________ est sur l’enveloppe n’est pas tout à fait correcte.
4. La réponse _______________________ je vais donner dépend de toi.
5. La soirée _______________________ nous avons ratée était super.
6. On m’a dit que la musique _______________________ on y jouait était merveilleuse.
Translate the following sentences into French.
1. Here is the gift I want.
2. It is the bike that is in the window.
3. Look! The salesman who was there yesterday!
4. He is the one who showed me this bike.
5. It is really the gift I would like.
6. It is even the color that I love.
Using ce qui or ce que
Ce qui and ce que/ce qu’ are used to refer to ideas, concepts, or a clause. They translate as what (that which), and refer to an idea not specifically mentioned in the sentence.
In this example, we do not have an antecedent for ce qui. The what being referred to could be an accident, an altercation, a special activity, a lecture, and so on. Note that the same is true in the following sentences: Without context, we do not know exactly what is being refered to.
A relative clause with ce qui or ce que is sometimes the subject of the verb in the main clause. In that case, it precedes the main clause in French and in English.
The reverse order is sometimes used for emphasis. This is a more familiar structure. In this case, a comma separates the two clauses because the usual order of the elements of the sentence is now inverted.
Combine and rewrite each pair of sentences using one of the relative pronouns in parentheses.
1. Voilà les billets. Je les ai achetés hier. (que, ce que)
2. J’admire les artistes. Ils vont nous divertir. (qui, ce qui)
3. Cela m’étonne. C’est que nos amis ne sont pas encore arrivés. (qui, ce qui)
4. J’ai le temps de boire ce café. J’ai préparé le café. (que, ce que)
5. Ah! J’entends une voiture. Elle s’arrête devant chez nous. (qui, que)
6. Ce sont nos amis. Ils arrivent. (qui, que)
Using the relative pronouns qui and lequel after prepositions
Some dependent relative clauses are introduced by a preposition. (For more on prepositions, see Unit 15). In this case the relative pronoun is the object of the preposition. Use either qui or lequel after a preposition introducing a dependent clause. The choice of which relative pronoun to use will depend upon whether the antecedent of the pronoun (the what or the who being referred to) is a person or a thing.
Relative clauses introduced by a preposition and qui
When the antecedent of a relative pronoun introduced by a preposition is a person, the pronoun qui (whom) is used.
main clause + preposition + relative clause
Regarde la personne + à côté de + qui il s’assied.
Look at the person next to whom he is sitting.
In this sentence, the relative clause is introduced by à côté de qui. The pronoun qui replaces the noun la personne, which is the direct object of the main verb.
subject of the main verb + preposition + relative clause + main verb
L’ami + avec + qui je travaille + est parti.
The friend with whom I work left.
In this sentence, the relative clause is introduced by avec qui. The pronoun qui replaces the noun L’ami, which is the subject of the main verb. Note that the relative clause is embedded in the main clause because it elaborates on the subject of the main clause.
In the following sentences, note that the relative clause may follow the main clause or be embedded in it depending on whether the antecedent of the relative pronoun is the subject or direct object in the main clause.
Relative clauses introduced by a preposition and a form of lequel
After a preposition introducing a relative clause, a form of the relative pronoun lequel (which/that) is used when the antecedent of the relative pronoun is a thing. Consider the following sentences and note that the form of the relative pronoun lequel changes according to the gender and number of the antecedent:
Consider the following relative clauses introduced by prepositions and note that the masculine singular form and both plural forms of the relative pronoun lequel contract with the prepositions à and de.
Choose the relative pronoun in parentheses that will correctly complete each sentence.
1. Voici le journal dans _______________________ j’ai lu l’article sur la crise en Côte d’Ivoire. (qui, lequel)
2. C’est la crise à cause de _______________________ il y a tant d’orphelins là-bas. (qui, laquelle)
3. J’ai une amie sur _______________________ je peux toujours compter pour m’informer des affaires africaines. (qui, laquelle)
4. C’est la personne avec _______________________ je peux discuter de choses sérieuses. (qui, laquelle)
5. Est-ce que les clubs _______________________ tu appartiens font des œuvres de charité? (à qui, auxquels)
6. C’est la cause humanitaire _______________________ je m’intéresse le plus. (à qui, à laquelle)
Translate the following sentences into French using a preposition followed by qui or a form of lequel in the relative clauses.
1. This is the friend for whom I do this.
2. This is the building in which I work.
3. This is the office near to which there is a restaurant.
4. This is the person thanks to whom I have a job.
5. This is the desk on which I put the mail.
6. This is the notebook in which I write appointments.
Using the relative pronoun dont
The pronoundont can be translated as that, whose, of whom,or of which.This pronoun refers
to a person or a thing. Use it whenever the verb in the relative clause is followed by the
preposition de.
In this sentence, the relative clause is introduced by dont because the verb in the relative clause is se souvenir de. The preposition de, which must follow the verb se souvenir, governs the use of dont.
In this sentence, the relative clause is introduced by dont because the verb in the relative clause is avoir besoin de. The preposition de, which must follow the phrase avoir besoin, governs the use of dont.
Similarly, in the following sentences, the verb or phrase in the relative clause (parler de/être fier de) governs the use of dont because it is followed by the preposition de.
The relative pronoun dont also indicates possession or relationship. In this case, it is translated as whose or of which.
Translate the relative clauses within parentheses to complete each French sentence.
1. L’homme _______________________________________________________habite ici. (whose dog ran off)
2. La dame _____________________________________________________________est très seule. (whose husband is on a trip)
3. Les parents _________________________________________________________sont professeurs. (whose daughter is so smart)
4. Les étudiants __________________________________________________sont travailleurs. (of whom the teacher is proud)
5. La voiture __________________________________________________________est au garage. (the battery of which is dead)
6. La maison ___________________________________________________________ est chère. (the kitchen of which is renovated)
Using the relative pronoun où
The relative pronoun où refers to both place and time in French. Therefore it means both where and when in English.
Translate the sentences into French using the phrases in parentheses as guides.
1. The year when Sarkozy was born is 1955. (il est né en 1955)
2. The city where he was born is Paris. (il est né à Paris)
3. Carla Bruni is the woman with whom he is married. (il est marié avec Carla Bruni)
4. Politics is what interests him the most. (il s’intéresse le plus à la politique)
5. The palace where French presidents live is called l’Elysée. (les présidents français habitent le palais de l’Elysée)
6. What he is the most proud of is his title of president. (il est le plus fier de son titre de président)