Defining clauses in French are relative clauses that specify exactly which person or thing we are talking about. They are essential for providing necessary information to identify the noun.
Defining clauses (also called restrictive relative clauses) follow a noun and give essential information that defines or limits its meaning. Unlike non-defining clauses, they do not use commas and cannot be omitted without changing the sentence's meaning. In French, defining clauses are introduced by relative pronouns such as qui, que, dont, and où.
Types of Defining Clauses
- French defining clauses always follow the noun they modify.
- They are introduced by a relative pronoun that relates to the noun and serves a grammatical function within the clause.
- The main relative pronouns for defining clauses are qui, que, dont, and où.
Clauses with *qui
- Qui is used when the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the clause.
- It can refer to people or things.
- Example: Voici l’homme qui parle. (Here is the man who is speaking.)
Clauses with *que
- Que is used when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the verb in the clause.
- It also refers to people or things.
- Example: Voici le livre que j’ai lu. (Here is the book that I read.)
Clauses with *dont
- Dont replaces a phrase with de (e.g., de, parler de, avoir besoin de).
- It can refer to people or things.
- Example: Voilà l’artiste dont je parle. (Here is the artist I’m talking about.)
Clauses with *où
- Où refers to a place or a time.
- It can mean "where," "when," or "in which."
- Example: Voici la ville où je suis né. (Here is the city where I was born.)
Examples
- These examples show how defining clauses provide essential information about the noun.
- Notice how the relative pronoun connects the clause to the noun and serves a subject, object, or other role.
| French Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| C’est la femme qui travaille ici. | She’s the woman who works here. |
| Voilà le film que j’ai vu hier. | That’s the movie that I saw yesterday. |
| Je connais un écrivain dont les romans sont célèbres. | I know a writer whose novels are famous. |
| Voici le jour où nous partons. | This is the day when we leave. |
Summary
- French defining clauses are relative clauses that specify which person or thing is being talked about.
- They are introduced by relative pronouns qui, que, dont, and où.
- Defining clauses contain essential information and are not set off by commas.
- The choice of pronoun depends on its grammatical role (subject, direct object, complement of "de," or expression of place/time).
Understanding defining clauses is key to building more precise and complex sentences in French.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- English Translation: She’s the woman who works here.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
