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Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns link (cf. relier) a main clause with a subordinate (relative) one.

The relative clause generally qualifies or explains a noun in the main clause that is its referent or antecedent. The relative pronoun then stands for this noun within the relative clause in which it can be a subject, a direct object, or the object of a preposition.

In this exercise, blanks must be filled in with the appropriate relative pronoun.

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Grammatical Notes

Ex. #1 - Vocab.?

Je vais aller voir le film tu m'as parlé.

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    • Ex. #2 - Vocab.?

    J'adore le cadeau tu m'as donné.

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    • Ex. #3 - Vocab.?

    je veux par dessus tout est une vie tranquille.

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    • Ex. #4 - Vocab.?

    Le parc j'habite est idéal pour promener mon chien.

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    • Ex. #5 - Vocab.?

    La personne je peux compter est ma meilleure amie.

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    • Ex. #6 - Vocab.?

    Je connais une femme parle cinq langues.

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    • Ex. #7 - Vocab.?

    Il parle tout le temps, me rend folle.

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    • Ex. #8 - Vocab.?

    j'ai besoin est un bon livre de grammaire.

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    • Ex. #9 - Vocab.?

    Le stylo j'aime écrire appartenait à ma mére.

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    • Ex. #10 - Vocab.?

    Dis-moi tu veux et je le ferai.

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  • 1 valid answers
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    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (with de).

    The relative pronoun dont is used when the verb of the relative clause takes the preposition de. (eg: Le livre dont j'ai besoin est difficile à trouver.) Dont can refer to people and things.

    Back to Ex. 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 2

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (direct object).

    The relative pronoun que is used when it is the direct object of its clause. (eg: La France est un pays que je connais.) Que in this case can refer to both people and things.

    Back to Ex. 2

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 2

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Ce que is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce que tu me dis est très intéressant./ C'est très intéressant ce que tu me dis.) As with que, it is the direct object of the relative clause.

    Back to Ex. 3

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 3

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 3

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition ending in de).

    When a preposition is an expression ending in de (à côté de, près de etc...), lequel is used and not dont, and appropriate contractions are made. (eg: Le lac près duquel j'habite est gelé en hiver).

    Back to Ex. 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition ending in de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition ending in de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 5

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    After prepositions other than de, qui is used for people, lequel (laquelle, lesquelles, lesquelles) is used for things. (eg: La fille avec qui j'habite est gentille./ La piscine dans laquelle je nage est très froide.) If the preposition is à, appropriate contractions must be made: auquel, auxquels etc...

    Back to Ex. 5

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 5

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (subject).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 6

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (subject).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 6

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (subject).

    The relative pronoun qui is used when it is the subject of its clause. (eg: J'ai lu un livre qui est très intéressant.) Qui in this case can refer to both people and things.

    Back to Ex. 6

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the indefinte relative pronoun (subject).

    Ce qui is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce qui me plaît est d'aller nager./Aller nager est ce qui me plaît.) As with qui, it is the subject of the relative clause .

    Back to Ex. 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinte relative pronoun (subject).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinte relative pronoun (subject).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (with de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 8

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (with de).

    Ce dont is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce dont tu as envie est difficile à trouver./C'est difficile à trouver, ce dont tu as envie.) As with dont, it is used when the verb takes the preposition de.

    Back to Ex. 8

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (with de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 8

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 9

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    After prepositions other than de, qui is used for people, lequel (laquelle, lesquelles, lesquelles) is used for things. (eg: La fille avec qui j'habite est gentille./ La piscine dans laquelle je nage est très froide.) If the preposition is à, appropriate contractions must be made: auquel, auxquels etc...

    Back to Ex. 9

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 9

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 10

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 10

    Correct!

    Proper choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Ce que is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce que tu me dis est très intéressant./ C'est très intéressant ce que tu me dis.) As with que, it is the direct object of the relative clause.

    Back to Ex. 10

    Grammatical notes for the exercises in this page.

    Relative pronouns link (cf. relier) a main clause with a subordinate (relative) one.

    The relative clause generally qualifies or explains a noun in the main clause that is its referent or antecedent. The relative pronoun then stands for this noun within the relative clause in which it can be a subject, a direct object, or the object of a preposition.

    In this exercise, blanks must be filled in with the appropriate relative pronoun.

    The items covered are:

    1)- The choice of the relative pronoun (subject).

    The relative pronoun qui is used when it is the subject of its clause. (eg: J'ai lu un livre qui est très intéressant.) Qui in this case can refer to both people and things.

    Ex. 6

    2)- The choice of the relative pronoun (direct object).

    The relative pronoun que is used when it is the direct object of its clause. (eg: La France est un pays que je connais.) Que in this case can refer to both people and things.

    Ex. 2

    3)- The choice of the relative pronoun (with de).

    The relative pronoun dont is used when the verb of the relative clause takes the preposition de. (eg: Le livre dont j'ai besoin est difficile à trouver.) Dont can refer to people and things.

    Ex. 1

    4)- The choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition other than de).

    After prepositions other than de, qui is used for people, lequel (laquelle, lesquelles, lesquelles) is used for things. (eg: La fille avec qui j'habite est gentille./ La piscine dans laquelle je nage est très froide.) If the preposition is à, appropriate contractions must be made: auquel, auxquels etc...

    Ex. 5 Ex. 9

    5)- The choice of the relative pronoun (with a preposition ending in de).

    When a preposition is an expression ending in de (à côté de, près de etc...), lequel is used and not dont, and appropriate contractions are made. (eg: Le lac près duquel j'habite est gelé en hiver).

    Ex. 4

    6)- The choice of the indefinte relative pronoun (subject).

    Ce qui is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce qui me plaît est d'aller nager./Aller nager est ce qui me plaît.) As with qui, it is the subject of the relative clause .

    Ex. 7

    7)- The choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (direct object).

    Ce que is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce que tu me dis est très intéressant./ C'est très intéressant ce que tu me dis.) As with que, it is the direct object of the relative clause.

    Ex. 3 Ex. 10

    8)- The choice of the indefinite relative pronoun (with de).

    Ce dont is an indefinite relative pronoun that is used when no antecedent is given or to refer to an entire proposition. (eg: Ce dont tu as envie est difficile à trouver./C'est difficile à trouver, ce dont tu as envie.) As with dont, it is used when the verb takes the preposition de.

    Ex. 8

    Back to Ex. 1

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    Vocabulary for Ex. #1 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #2 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #3 - Back to Exercise?

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    Vocabulary for Ex. #6 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #7 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #8 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #9 - Back to Exercise?

    Vocabulary for Ex. #10 - Back to Exercise?