In French, relative clauses (les propositions relatives) are used to combine two sentences into one by providing additional information about a noun. This is done using relative pronouns like qui, que, dont, and où.
- Qui (who, which) is used as the subject of the relative clause.
- Que (whom, which) is used as the object of the relative clause.
- Dont (whose, of which) replaces a phrase introduced by de.
- Où (where, when) refers to a place or time.
Relative clauses agree in gender and number with the noun they describe and help make your French more fluent and descriptive.
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Table of Contents
- Defining Clauses
Defining clauses in French, also known as restrictive relative clauses, explain exactly which person or thing we’re talking about using relative pronouns like qui, que, and dont. They provide essential information that specifies or restricts the meaning of the noun they modify, and cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.
- Non-defining Clauses
Non-defining clauses in French, also known as non-restrictive clauses, add extra information to a sentence without changing its main meaning...
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
