86 Il me la faut

Que vs. Qui

In French, “que” and “qui” are both relative pronouns used to connect clauses, but they have distinct grammatical roles.

1. “Qui” as a Relative Pronoun

🔹 “Qui” replaces the subject of a subordinate clause. Since it functions as a subject, it is always followed by a verb.

✅ Examples:

• La femme qui parle est ma tante. → The woman who is speaking is my aunt.
• J’ai un chien qui adore jouer. → I have a dog that loves to play.
• Le film qui passe ce soir est intéressant. → The movie that is playing tonight is interesting.

📌 Key Rule:

• “Qui” is never shortened. Unlike “que,” it does not become qu’ before a vowel.

2. “Que” as a Relative Pronoun

🔹 “Que” replaces the direct object of a subordinate clause. Since it functions as an object, it is always followed by a noun or pronoun (subject + verb).

✅ Examples:

• La femme que j’ai vue est ma tante. → The woman whom I saw is my aunt.
• J’ai un chien que j’adore. → I have a dog that I love.
• Le film que nous regardons est intéressant. → The movie that we are watching is interesting.

📌 Key Rule:

• “Que” becomes “qu’” before a vowel:
  • Le livre qu’il lit est passionnant. → The book that he is reading is fascinating.

3. “Qui” vs. “Que” – Key Differences

📌 Trick to remember:

• If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb → use “qui”.
• If the relative pronoun is followed by a subject + verb → use “que”.

4. Special Cases and Notes

A. “Qui” and “Que” with Passé Composé

When using passé composé, the past participle agrees in gender and number when “que” is the object.

✅ Example:

• La femme que j’ai vue était gentille. → The woman whom I saw was kind. (“vue” agrees with “femme”) ❗
• La femme qui a parlé était gentille. → The woman who spoke was kind. (No agreement needed) ✅

B. Using “Qui” and “Que” with Things (Not Just People!)

Both pronouns can refer to things, not just people.

✅ Example with “Qui” (as subject):

• C’est un film qui m’a beaucoup plu. → It’s a movie that I really liked. 🎬

✅ Example with “Que” (as object):

• C’est un film que j’ai regardé hier. → It’s a movie that I watched yesterday. 🎥

C. “Qui” as an Indirect Object After a Preposition

“Qui” can also replace the indirect object after a preposition, but only when referring to people. When referring to things, use “lequel” (or its variations).

✅ Examples with “Qui” (for people):

• C’est l’ami avec qui je voyage. → This is the friend with whom I am traveling.
• La personne à qui j’ai parlé était très gentille. → The person to whom I spoke was very kind.
• Le professeur chez qui nous allons est très connu. → The teacher at whose place we are going is well known.

✅ Examples with “Lequel” (for things):

• Le livre sur lequel j’ai écrit mon nom est perdu. → The book on which I wrote my name is lost.
• Les idées auxquelles je pense sont intéressantes. → The ideas to which I am thinking are interesting.
• C’est une question à laquelle je réfléchis. → It’s a question about which I am thinking.

📌 Key Rule:

• Use “qui” after a preposition only for people.
• Use “lequel” (or its forms) after a preposition for things.

5. Conclusion

✅ Use “qui” when it is the subject of the clause and is followed by a verb.
✅ Use “que” when it is the direct object of the clause and is followed by a subject + verb.
✅ “Que” contracts to qu’ before a vowel, but “qui” never changes.
✅ When using “que” with passé composé, make sure to apply past participle agreement.
✅ “Qui” can be used after a preposition, but only for people. Use “lequel” (or variations) for things.

Dont

1. What is “Dont”?

“Dont” is a French relative pronoun that replaces “de + noun” in a relative clause. It is commonly translated as “whose,” “of which,” “about which,” or “including” in English.

2. How to Use “Dont”

A. “Dont” Replaces “de + Noun”

Many French verbs, adjectives, and nouns are followed by “de.” When these appear in relative clauses, “dont” is used instead of repeating “de + noun.”

✅ Examples:

• C’est l’auteur dont je parle. → He is the author (whom) I am talking about. (parler de quelqu’un / quelque chose)
• Voilà le livre dont j’ai besoin. → Here is the book (that) I need. (avoir besoin de quelque chose)
• Il a une sœur dont il est fier. → He has a sister of whom he is proud. (être fier de quelqu’un)

B. “Dont” Expresses Possession (“Whose”)

When indicating possession, “dont” replaces “whose” in English.

✅ Examples:

• C’est l’homme dont la voiture est rouge. → He is the man whose car is red.
• J’ai rencontré une femme dont le fils est médecin. → I met a woman whose son is a doctor.

📌 Key Rule: Unlike English, the possessed noun (“la voiture,” “le fils”) agrees in gender and number with the original noun (“l’homme,” “une femme”), not with “dont.”

C. “Dont” with Expressions Like “Se Souvenir De”

Some common expressions require “dont” when used in a relative clause.

✅ Examples:

• C’est un jour dont je me souviens bien. → It’s a day I remember well. (se souvenir de quelque chose)
• C’est une histoire dont on parle souvent. → It’s a story that people often talk about. (parler de quelque chose)

3. “Dont” vs. “Duquel”

For some formal contexts or when a preposition (e.g., “près de,” “au sujet de”) is required before “de,” you must use “duquel” instead of “dont.”

✅ Examples:

• Le sujet au sujet duquel nous avons discuté… → The subject about which we discussed…
• La ville près de laquelle j’habite… → The city near which I live…

📌 Key Rule: Use “dont” for simple “de” phrases, but “duquel” (or “de laquelle / desquels / desquelles”) for compound prepositions.

4. Summary Table

📔 Examples from the text

• une femme ou un homme dont les compétences techniques sont reconnues et dont nous pouvons être sûrs.
• Nous n’avons pas encore finalisé le profil de ce poste ni le périmètre dont le nouveau directeur sera responsable
• C’est pour cette raison que nous avons besoin de vos services, dont on nous dit le plus grand bien.
• Le recrutement en ligne a ses limites, dont vous êtes certainement au courant.
• Je vous remercie de votre confiance, dont nous nous montrerons dignes, je vous le promets.
• Nous saurons dénicher la personne dont vous avez besoin, celui ou celle qui correspondra au mieux à vos exigences.
• Nous avons plusieurs possibilités, dont un Belge.
• Il s’agit d’une femme ayant une grande expérience à l’export et dont les qualités sont reconnues par tous ses collègues.
• Je peux vous affirmer qu’elle pourra fidéliser les clients, accroître les ventes et développer votre groupe, dont l’activité est en pleine croissance.

Il se peut que

“Il se peut que” is a French expression meaning “It is possible that” or “It may be that.” It is used to express possibility or uncertainty and is always followed by the subjunctive mood because it conveys doubt or speculation. This phrase is more formal than “Peut-être que” but is commonly used in written and spoken French.

✅ Examples:

• Il se peut qu’il pleuve demain. → It may rain tomorrow.
• Il se peut que nous soyons en retard. → We might be late.

📌 Key Rule: Since “se peut” comes from “pouvoir” in an impersonal construction, it does not change according to the subject. If you want a less formal alternative, you can use “C’est possible que”, which also takes the subjunctive.

Je pense…

In French, verbs like penser (to think), croire (to believe), espérer (to hope), and supposer (to suppose) can be followed directly by an infinitive verb when the subject of both verbs is the same. This construction avoids the need for a subordinate clause with “que” and simplifies the sentence structure. The general pattern is:

📌 Subject + [penser/croire/espérer/supposer] + infinitive

✅ Examples:

• Je pense réussir l’examen. → I think I will pass the exam.
• Elle croit comprendre le problème. → She believes she understands the problem.
• Nous espérons gagner le match. → We hope to win the match.
• Il suppose avoir raison. → He supposes he is right.

If the subject changes, these verbs must be followed by “que” + a conjugated verb (Je pense que tu réussiras.). However, when referring to oneself, using the infinitive is more natural and direct.

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