French grammar: les pronoms relatifs simples (qui, que, où)

What this grammar point covers

In French, 'les pronoms relatifs simples' (qui, que, où) are words used to connect two sentences by replacing a noun. They help combine ideas and make sentences clearer.

When to use it

Use these pronouns to join two sentences and avoid repeating the same word. They let you add extra information about a person, thing, place, or time.

Key forms

• 'qui' (who, which) – subject of the verb that follows
• 'que' (that, which) – direct object of the verb that follows
• 'où' (where, when) – indicates a place or time

Examples

Tips

• Use 'qui' when the pronoun is the subject of the second part.
• Use 'que' when the pronoun is the direct object of the second part.
• 'Où' is for places or times, not just 'where'.

Exceptions and edge cases

• After prepositions (like 'avec', 'pour'), you need more complex pronouns (not covered here).