Qui/Que usage - French Language2024-03-29T09:00:20Zhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/qui-que-usage?feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe theory is even simpler :…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-12-05:3179028:Comment:980382012-12-05T17:16:21.278ZJan Loosehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/JanLoose
<p>The theory is even simpler :</p>
<p>qui is used when referring to a subject in a sub-clause :</p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>L'animal</strong></span></em> donne du lait - <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>l'animal</strong></span></em> s'appelle une vache</p>
<p>l'animal <strong>qui</strong> donne du lait, s'appelle une vâche - the animal that gives milk is called a cow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>que is used when referring to a direct object in a…</p>
<p>The theory is even simpler :</p>
<p>qui is used when referring to a subject in a sub-clause :</p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>L'animal</strong></span></em> donne du lait - <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>l'animal</strong></span></em> s'appelle une vache</p>
<p>l'animal <strong>qui</strong> donne du lait, s'appelle une vâche - the animal that gives milk is called a cow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>que is used when referring to a direct object in a sub-clause</p>
<p> L'animal a été tué dans un abattoir. Nous mangeons <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>l'animal.</strong></span></em></p>
<p>l'animal <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>que</strong></span></em> nous mangeons, a été tué dans un abattoir - the animal that we eat, was killed in a slaughterhouse.</p>
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<p>Note also your spelling : l'originalit<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>é.</strong></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>bonne chance, </strong></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Jan Loose</strong></span></em></p> Hi,
The simple way to remembe…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-22:3179028:Comment:976642012-11-22T23:18:37.599ZBeth Phillipshttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/BethPhillips
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>The simple way to remember which one to use is that: "que" is always followed by a pronoun.</p>
<p></p>
<p>So in your sentence you would use "qui".</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Beth</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>The simple way to remember which one to use is that: "que" is always followed by a pronoun.</p>
<p></p>
<p>So in your sentence you would use "qui".</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Beth</p> If the video actually relates…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-22:3179028:Comment:976552012-11-22T21:19:28.167ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>If the video actually relates to this question and isn't just an advert or copyright violation, then you are welcome to add it.</p>
<p>If the video actually relates to this question and isn't just an advert or copyright violation, then you are welcome to add it.</p> well, there is a very simple…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-22:3179028:Comment:976522012-11-22T19:01:05.594Zjorge chehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/jorgeche
<p>well, there is a very simple way to understand it (I get a video about that but the kind administrator is going to ban me if I add it), so:</p>
<p>A film wich shines: the subject of shines ( a film) is before which so QUI in French: un film qui brille</p>
<p>A film that I want to see: the subject I is after that so QUE: un film que je veux voir</p>
<p></p>
<p>(I know that some are going to say that the reel subject is "which" ok ok, but it is easier like that)</p>
<p>well, there is a very simple way to understand it (I get a video about that but the kind administrator is going to ban me if I add it), so:</p>
<p>A film wich shines: the subject of shines ( a film) is before which so QUI in French: un film qui brille</p>
<p>A film that I want to see: the subject I is after that so QUE: un film que je veux voir</p>
<p></p>
<p>(I know that some are going to say that the reel subject is "which" ok ok, but it is easier like that)</p> I also found that this is tru…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-20:3179028:Comment:978162012-11-20T18:24:00.478ZMeredith Preblehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/MeredithPreble
<p>I also found that this is true with ce qui and ce que. When a PN is used to replace the subject use ce qui, but when it's to replace a direct object use ce que. Two verbs in a sentence usually tells if a direct object is needed.</p>
<p>I also found that this is true with ce qui and ce que. When a PN is used to replace the subject use ce qui, but when it's to replace a direct object use ce que. Two verbs in a sentence usually tells if a direct object is needed.</p> Thanks for the in-depth expla…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-14:3179028:Comment:977022012-11-14T17:25:28.242ZNicholas Mamohttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NicholasMamo
<p>Thanks for the in-depth explanation and links. Could you give me an example of when to use que instead of qui please?</p>
<p>Thanks for the in-depth explanation and links. Could you give me an example of when to use que instead of qui please?</p> The only grammatical choice o…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-11-12:3179028:Comment:975082012-11-12T15:25:31.307ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>The only grammatical choice of the two would be <strong>qui</strong> in this case.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You may find this surprising if you are used to thinking that <strong>qui</strong> means "who". However, this isn't strictly true: <strong>qui</strong> means "who" at the start of a <em>question</em>. But to introduce a relative clause as in your sentence here, the choice between <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>qui</strong> and <strong>que</strong> depends on whether they are…</span></p>
<p>The only grammatical choice of the two would be <strong>qui</strong> in this case.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You may find this surprising if you are used to thinking that <strong>qui</strong> means "who". However, this isn't strictly true: <strong>qui</strong> means "who" at the start of a <em>question</em>. But to introduce a relative clause as in your sentence here, the choice between <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>qui</strong> and <strong>que</strong> depends on whether they are the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause</span>.</p>
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<p>Unlike when asking a question, the choice doesn't depend on whether you're referring to a person or object in this case.</p>
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<p>So, you use <strong>qui</strong> in your sentence because it effectively acts as the subject of the verb <strong>briller</strong>. There's some more information on <a href="http://www.french-linguistics.co.uk/grammar/relative_pronouns.shtml" target="_blank">when to use qui vs que</a> in the grammar section of the web site.</p>
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<p>If you're not sure if it's the subject or object, how do you tell? Well, as a rule of thumb, the thing being referred to in the relative clause is the <strong>subject, requiring <em>qui</em> in French, if changing it from singular to plural would also change the verb</strong>. In English, this rule of thumb works in the present tense (because in the past tense, English verbs don't change their form). So:</p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A film</span> which <span style="text-decoration: underline;">shines</span> because of...</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Films</span> which <span style="text-decoration: underline;">shine</span>...</p>
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<p>Notice how changing the singular "film" to plural "films" also means you have to change the verb. So that gives you a clue that it's the subject of the relative clause (and so needs <strong>qui</strong> in French).</p>
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<p>On the other hand, consider this sentence:</p>
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<p>The <strong>film</strong> that I <strong>am</strong> seeing tonight</p>
<p>The <strong>films</strong> that I <strong>am</strong> seeing tonight</p>
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<p>In this case, changing "film" to "films" makes no difference to the verb. So that is a clue that you would use <strong>que</strong> in French. (I stress this rule of thumb only works in the present tense, and also wouldn't work if the verb was one of the "special" modal verbs in English that never change their form: should, must, would etc.)</p>
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