C'est le livre qui est sur la table.
English: This is the book that is on the table.
- Language
- French
- Level
- A2
- Unit
- Pronoms
- Practice types
- 0
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
La fille que je vois est ma sœur.
English: The girl whom I see is my sister.
Voici la maison où j'habite.
English: Here is the house where I live.
J'ai un ami qui parle français.
English: I have a friend who speaks French.
Le jour où nous sommes partis était ensoleillé.
English: The day when we left was sunny.
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).