Pronom relatif – Master Relative Pronouns in French

Key takeaways

• Relative pronouns connect two clauses, avoiding repetition.
• Common forms: qui, que, dont, où.
• They agree in gender/number only when necessary (lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles).
• Choosing the right pronoun depends on its function in the sentence (subject, object, possession, place).
• Essential for creating fluent, natural-sounding French sentences.

What Are Relative Pronouns in French?

Relative pronouns (pronoms relatifs) link a main clause and a subordinate clause without repeating words.

Example:

• J’ai un ami. Il habite à Paris. → J’ai un ami qui habite à Paris.

The Main French Relative Pronouns

1. Qui – subject of the verb

• La femme qui parle est ma prof. → The woman who is speaking is my teacher.

2. Que (qu’) – direct object

• Le livre que j’ai lu est intéressant. → The book that I read is interesting.

3. Dont – possession or “of which”

• C’est l’homme dont je t’ai parlé. → That’s the man I told you about.

4. Où – place or time

• La ville où je suis né est belle. → The city where I was born is beautiful.

Advanced Relative Pronouns

• Lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles → “which” (agree with gender/number) 
  
  • Voici la chaise sur laquelle je me suis assis. → Here’s the chair on which I sat.
• Auquel, à laquelle, auxquels, auxquelles → “to which”
• Duquel, de laquelle, desquels, desquelles → “of which”

Relative Pronouns in Sentences

• C’est un film qui plaît à tout le monde. → It’s a film that everyone likes.
• J’ai une amie que tu connais. → I have a friend whom you know.
• Voilà le professeur dont j’ai besoin. → That’s the teacher I need.
• L’année où nous nous sommes rencontrés était spéciale. → The year when we met was special.

1

Simple vs Complex Sentences with Pronouns

Common Mistakes

• Confusing qui and que. (Qui = subject, que = object).
• Forgetting agreement with lequel forms.
• Using où incorrectly for people instead of places.

Exercises: Practice French Relative Pronouns

1. Fill in the blanks

• Le film ________ j’ai vu hier était excellent.
• J’ai une amie ________ habite à Lyon.
• Voici le professeur ________ je t’ai parlé.

2. Translate into French

• The house where I grew up is big.
• That’s the man I met yesterday.
• She has a sister whom you know.

3. Correct the mistakes

• ❌ La femme que parle est ma mère.
• ❌ Le livre qui j’ai acheté est intéressant.

Answers

1. que | qui | dont
2. La maison où j’ai grandi est grande | C’est l’homme que j’ai rencontré hier | Elle a une sœur que tu connais
3. La femme qui parle est ma mère | Le livre que j’ai acheté est intéressant

Tips for Mastering Relative Pronouns

• Remember the rule: qui = subject, que = object, dont = of which, où = where/when.
• Practice turning two short sentences into one using a relative pronoun.
• Learn the lequel family for more formal writing.
• Read authentic French texts to see pronouns in context.

For more on grammar, explore our French verb tenses overview. To improve efficiency, see learning French effectively. And if you want to set realistic goals, check how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

Relative pronouns in French (les pronoms relatifs) include qui, que, dont, où, lequel. They link clauses and prevent repetition, making speech smoother.

Resources like Mango Languages’ guide on how to use relative pronouns in French and Lingolia’s overview of les pronoms relatifs français are excellent references. With practice, you’ll naturally build sentences like J’ai un ami qui habite à Paris as you learn French with Promova.