Pronoms relatifs indéfinis
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Indefinite relative pronouns are connectors: they link relative clauses to main clauses and, unlike normal relative pronouns, do not not have a specific antecedent.
Characteristics of indefinite relative pronouns
- Connect relative and main clauses
- Can be subjects, direct objects, or objects of a preposition
- Are impersonal and therefore invariable
- Are required
If any of the above grammatical concepts are unclear to you, please study those lessons before reading this one.
French indefinite relative pronouns
There are five French indefinite relative pronouns:
| Pronoun | Function | English equivalents | ||
| ce dont | object of preposition de | what, that | ||
| ce que | direct object | what, that | ||
| ce qui | subject | what, that | ||
| (ce) __ quoi | object of any other preposition | what, that | ||
| quiconque | subject or object | anyone who, whoever |
The first four are the most important and, confusingly, all have the same English equivalents. So which pronoun to use depends solely on the grammatical structure of the sentence. Click the links in the table above for detailed lessons.
Relative Pronouns Quizzes
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on French relative pronouns with these fill-in-the-blanks exercises:
- Exprimer sa gratitude (que, qui, ce que, ce qui)
- Mes choses préférées (que vs ce que)
Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless French account to take these tests. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
Related lessons
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