Introduction

Relative clauses are essential for adding detail and complexity to sentences in French. They allow you to provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence.

What Are Relative Clauses?

A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes or gives more information about a noun. It is similar to an adjective, but in the form of a clause.

Example in English:

The book that you gave me is fascinating.

Here, "that you gave me" is a relative clause describing "the book."

Structure of Relative Clauses in French

Basic Structure

In French, relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns, which connect the clause to the noun it modifies.

Common Relative Pronouns

Qui: Refers to the subject of the relative clause.

Example: "La femme qui parle est ma sœur."

(The woman who is speaking is my sister.)

Que: Refers to the object of the relative clause.

Example: "Le livre que tu lis est intéressant."

(The book that you are reading is interesting.)

Où: Refers to a place or time.

Example: "C’est la maison où j’ai grandi."

(This is the house where I grew up.)

Dont: Used to indicate possession or in expressions requiring "de."

Example: "Voici l’ami dont je t’ai parlé."

(Here is the friend whom I told you about.)

Advanced Relative Clauses in French

Relative Clauses with Prepositions

In more advanced structures, relative clauses can include prepositions, adding even more specificity to the information given.

Lequel, Laquelle, Lesquels, Lesquelles: These forms are used after prepositions and must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

Example: "Voici la chaise sur laquelle je me suis assis."

(Here is the chair on which I sat.)

Examples with Prepositions:

"C’est la méthode à laquelle je fais confiance."

(This is the method to which I trust.)

"Il a parlé d’un projet duquel il est fier."

(He spoke about a project of which he is proud.)

Avec:

"Elle travaille avec les collègues avec lesquels elle s’entend bien."

(She works with colleagues with whom she gets along well.)

Specialized Use of "Dont"

Dont is particularly useful for expressing relationships involving possession or verbs that take the preposition "de."

Example: "Il y a des choses dont je ne me souviens pas."

(There are things that I don’t remember.)

Relative Clauses with Complex Noun Phrases

Relative clauses can modify complex noun phrases, providing detailed descriptions or qualifications.

Example: "Les étudiants dont les travaux ont été sélectionnés recevront un prix."

(The students whose projects were selected will receive an award.)

Relative Clauses in Formal and Written French

In written and formal French, relative clauses can be used to create elegant and sophisticated sentences, making them a valuable tool for essays, reports, and official communication.

Example: "Le rapport que vous avez soumis contient des informations cruciales."

(The report that you submitted contains crucial information.)

Examples of Advanced Relative Clauses

With "Lequel" Series:

"C'est le document dans lequel j'ai noté toutes les informations."

"Elle vit dans une ville à laquelle elle est profondément attachée."

"Les outils avec lesquels il travaille sont très sophistiqués."

With "Dont":

"La femme dont le frère est médecin habite ici."

"Il a écrit un livre dont tout le monde parle."

"C’est une décision dont je suis fier."

Comparison of Relative Pronouns

Relative Pronoun	Function	Example
Qui	Subject of the clause	"L'homme qui parle est professeur."
Que	Object of the clause	"Le film que j’ai vu était incroyable."
Où	Refers to place or time	"Le jour où nous sommes partis était ensoleillé."
Dont	Indicates possession or "de" phrases	"La voiture dont il se sert est neuve."
Lequel	After prepositions (masculine singular)	"Le livre sur lequel je me base est fiable."
Laquelle	After prepositions (feminine singular)	"La question à laquelle je pense est complexe."
Lesquels	After prepositions (masculine plural)	"Les documents avec lesquels je travaille sont confidentiels."
Lesquelles	After prepositions (feminine plural)	"Les règles auxquelles je me réfère sont strictes."

Conclusion

Relative clauses are a powerful tool in French, enabling speakers and writers to add depth and precision to their communication. By mastering these structures, you can create more nuanced and detailed sentences, whether in everyday conversation or formal writing.

Take Quiz