Interrogative pronouns are special words that allow you to ask questions about who, what, or which. In French, these pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun they refer to. Using the preposition de (of) is common when asking about possession or origin.
Types of Interrogative Pronouns
- Qui (who) — refers to people.
- Quoi (what) — refers to things or ideas.
- Lequel / Laquelle / Lesquels / Lesquelles (which one(s)) — used to ask about a choice among several items, must agree in gender and number.
Usage Rules
- Qui can be the subject or object of a verb.
- Quoi is usually used after a preposition or at the end of a question.
- Lequel and its forms must agree with the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
- Use de + lequel/laquelle/lesquels/lesquelles for “of which” (e.g., de laquelle parles-tu? — “which one are you talking about?”).
What must 'Lequel' and its forms always match?
The gender and number of the noun they refer to.
'Lequel', 'Laquelle', 'Lesquels', and 'Lesquelles' must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they replace or refer to.
Examples
- Qui vient ce soir? (Who is coming tonight?)
- Que / Qu’ veux-tu? (What do you want?)
- Lequel préfères-tu? (Which one do you prefer?)
- De qui parles-tu? (About whom are you speaking?)
- À quoi penses-tu? (What are you thinking about?)
Summary
Interrogative pronouns in French—qui, quoi, lequel, etc.—allow you to ask detailed questions about people, things, and choices using simple rules.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
