Mastering “What” in French: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to express “what” in French is crucial for forming questions, making statements, and generally navigating the language. While seemingly simple, the nuances of translating “what” require grasping different grammatical structures and contexts.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to mastering “what” in French, covering various forms and their appropriate usage. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently use “what” in your French communication.

By exploring definitions, structural breakdowns, types, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises, this article aims to offer a holistic understanding of this essential aspect of French grammar. This knowledge is invaluable for anyone aiming for fluency and accuracy in French, enabling them to effectively ask questions, express surprise, and convey information with precision.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of “What” in French
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Types and Categories of “What” in French
   • Que
   • Quoi
   • Quel, Quelle, Quels, Quelles
   • Ce qui
   • Ce que
5. Examples of “What” in French
   • Examples with Que
   • Examples with Quoi
   • Examples with Quel, Quelle, Quels, Quelles
   • Examples with Ce qui
   • Examples with Ce que
6. Usage Rules
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
   • Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
   • Exercise 2: Translation
   • Exercise 3: Error Correction
9. Advanced Topics
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definition of “What” in French

The English word “what” can be translated into several different French words, depending on its function within a sentence. The primary translations are que, quoi, quel/quelle/quels/quelles, ce qui, and ce que. Each of these forms serves a specific grammatical purpose and is used in distinct contexts.

Que is typically used as a relative pronoun or a conjunction. As a relative pronoun, it replaces a direct object. As a conjunction, it introduces a subordinate clause. Quoi is generally used as an interrogative pronoun, often at the end of a question or after a preposition. Quel/quelle/quels/quelles are interrogative adjectives used to ask about the type or kind of something, and they must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Ce qui functions as a subject relative pronoun, meaning “what” when it is the subject of a clause. Ce que acts as an object relative pronoun, meaning “what” when it is the direct object of a clause. Understanding these distinctions is fundamental to using “what” correctly in French.

Structural Breakdown

The structure involving “what” in French varies based on the specific word used. Let’s break down the structural elements for each:

• Que: Often precedes a verb when used as a relative pronoun or introduces a clause as a conjunction. For example, in “Le livre que j’ai lu,” (The book that I read), “que” connects the relative clause “j’ai lu” to “le livre.”
• Quoi: Usually appears at the end of a question or after a preposition. For instance, “Tu fais quoi ?” (What are you doing?) places “quoi” at the end. After a preposition: “De quoi parles-tu ?” (What are you talking about?).
• Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles: These adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify and typically appear before the noun. For example, “Quel livre préfères-tu ?” (Which book do you prefer?) shows “quel” agreeing with the masculine singular noun “livre.”
• Ce qui: Always introduces a clause where “what” acts as the subject. Example: “Ce qui est important, c’est la vérité.” (What is important is the truth.)
• Ce que: Introduces a clause where “what” acts as the direct object. Example: “Ce que je veux, c’est du chocolat.” (What I want is chocolate.)

Types and Categories of “What” in French

Que

Que serves multiple functions. It can be a relative pronoun, replacing a direct object, or a conjunction, introducing a subordinate clause. As a relative pronoun, it connects two parts of a sentence by referring back to a noun. As a conjunction, it introduces clauses that provide additional information or context.

For example, as a relative pronoun: “C’est le film que j’ai vu hier.” (That’s the movie that I saw yesterday.) As a conjunction: “Je pense que tu as raison.” (I think that you are right.) In both cases, “que” plays a crucial role in linking different parts of the sentence together.

Quoi

Quoi is primarily used as an interrogative pronoun, often appearing at the end of questions or after prepositions. It is used to ask about something unspecified or unknown. “Quoi” emphasizes the object of the question and is typically used in informal contexts or when the subject is already understood.

For instance, “Tu dis quoi ?” (What are you saying?) is a common way to ask someone to repeat themselves. After a preposition: “À quoi penses-tu ?” (What are you thinking about?). The preposition always precedes “quoi” in such constructions.

Quel, Quelle, Quels, Quelles

Quel, quelle, quels, and quelles are interrogative adjectives used to ask about the type, kind, or quality of something. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. “Quel” is masculine singular, “quelle” is feminine singular, “quels” is masculine plural, and “quelles” is feminine plural. These adjectives are used to specify or narrow down the possibilities.

Examples include: “Quel livre lis-tu ?” (Which book are you reading?) – masculine singular. “Quelle voiture préfères-tu ?” (Which car do you prefer?) – feminine singular. “Quels sont tes projets ?” (What are your plans?) – masculine plural. “Quelles sont tes chaussures préférées ?” (What are your favorite shoes?) – feminine plural. In each case, the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies.

Ce qui

Ce qui functions as a subject relative pronoun, meaning “what” when it acts as the subject of a clause. It introduces a clause where the “what” is performing the action. “Ce qui” is often used to express general truths, facts, or opinions.

For example, “Ce qui est important, c’est l’amour.” (What is important is love.) Here, “ce qui” introduces the subject of the sentence. Another example: “Ce qui me plaît, c’est la musique.” (What pleases me is the music.)

Ce que

Ce que functions as an object relative pronoun, meaning “what” when it acts as the direct object of a clause. It introduces a clause where the “what” is being acted upon. “Ce que” is used to refer to something previously mentioned or understood.

For instance, “Ce que je veux, c’est un café.” (What I want is a coffee.) Here, “ce que” introduces the object of the sentence. Another example: “Ce que tu dis est vrai.” (What you say is true.)

Examples of “What” in French

To solidify understanding, let’s examine extensive examples of each form of “what” in French. These examples are categorized to highlight the specific usage of each term.

Examples with Que

The following table illustrates the use of “que” as a relative pronoun and a conjunction. Note how “que” connects clauses and provides context.

Sentence	Translation	Type
Le livre que j’ai acheté est intéressant.	The book that I bought is interesting.	Relative Pronoun
Je pense que tu as raison.	I think that you are right.	Conjunction
C’est la maison que nous avons visitée.	That’s the house that we visited.	Relative Pronoun
Il dit qu’il est fatigué.	He says that he is tired.	Conjunction
La chanson que j’écoute est belle.	The song that I am listening to is beautiful.	Relative Pronoun
Elle croit que c’est vrai.	She believes that it’s true.	Conjunction
Le cadeau que tu m’as offert est parfait.	The gift that you gave me is perfect.	Relative Pronoun
Nous savons que vous êtes capables.	We know that you are capable.	Conjunction
L’homme que j’ai vu est mon frère.	The man that I saw is my brother.	Relative Pronoun
Ils espèrent que tout ira bien.	They hope that everything will be alright.	Conjunction
La voiture que j’ai louée est rouge.	The car that I rented is red.	Relative Pronoun
Je crois que c’est une bonne idée.	I believe that it’s a good idea.	Conjunction
Le film que nous avons regardé était ennuyeux.	The movie that we watched was boring.	Relative Pronoun
Elle pense que tu devrais essayer.	She thinks that you should try.	Conjunction
Le gâteau que j’ai fait est délicieux.	The cake that I made is delicious.	Relative Pronoun
Nous sommes sûrs que vous réussirez.	We are sure that you will succeed.	Conjunction
La lettre que j’ai reçue est importante.	The letter that I received is important.	Relative Pronoun
Il dit qu’il viendra demain.	He says that he will come tomorrow.	Conjunction
Le travail que j’ai terminé était difficile.	The work that I finished was difficult.	Relative Pronoun
Ils savent que nous sommes là.	They know that we are here.	Conjunction
La pomme que j’ai mangée était sucrée.	The apple that I ate was sweet.	Relative Pronoun
Je sais que tu peux le faire.	I know that you can do it.	Conjunction
Le vélo que j’ai acheté est neuf.	The bike that I bought is new.	Relative Pronoun
Elle croit que c’est possible.	She believes that it’s possible.	Conjunction
Le livre que j’ai lu est passionnant.	The book that I read is exciting.	Relative Pronoun
Nous pensons que tu as raison.	We think that you are right.	Conjunction
La robe que j’ai portée était belle.	The dress that I wore was beautiful.	Relative Pronoun
Il espère que tout se passera bien.	He hopes that everything will go well.	Conjunction

Examples with Quoi

This table illustrates the use of “quoi” in questions and after prepositions, showcasing its role in inquiring about unidentified objects or situations.

Sentence	Translation
Tu fais quoi ?	What are you doing?
De quoi parles-tu ?	What are you talking about?
Quoi de neuf ?	What’s new?
À quoi ça sert ?	What is it for?
Tu veux quoi ?	What do you want?
Sur quoi est-ce que tu travailles ?	What are you working on?
Quoi qu’il arrive.	Whatever happens.
Pour quoi faire ?	What for?
Tu penses à quoi ?	What are you thinking about?
Avec quoi vas-tu le faire ?	What are you going to do it with?
Quoi d’autre ?	What else?
Tu as dit quoi ?	What did you say?
Sans quoi ?	Without what?
Il y a quoi ?	What is there?
Contre quoi te bats-tu ?	What are you fighting against?
Quoi qu’il en soit.	Whatever the case may be.
Après quoi courons-nous ?	What are we running after?
Tu cherches quoi ?	What are you looking for?
À quoi bon ?	What’s the point?
En quoi puis-je vous aider ?	What can I help you with?
Quoi que tu fasses.	Whatever you do.
Par quoi commencer ?	What to start with?
Tu as besoin de quoi ?	What do you need?
Sous quoi l’as-tu caché ?	What did you hide it under?
Quoi qu’il en coûte.	Whatever it costs.
Jusqu’à quoi es-tu prêt à aller ?	What are you willing to go up to?
Quoi qu’on dise.	Whatever people say.
Tu attends quoi ?	What are you waiting for?

Examples with Quel, Quelle, Quels, Quelles

The following table provides examples of “quel,” “quelle,” “quels,” and “quelles” used as interrogative adjectives, emphasizing their agreement with the nouns they modify.

Sentence	Translation	Noun Gender/Number
Quel livre préfères-tu ?	Which book do you prefer?	Masculine Singular
Quelle voiture aimes-tu ?	Which car do you like?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont tes passe-temps ?	What are your hobbies?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont tes chaussures préférées ?	What are your favorite shoes?	Feminine Plural
Quel est ton nom ?	What is your name?	Masculine Singular
Quelle heure est-il ?	What time is it?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont tes projets pour demain ?	What are your plans for tomorrow?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont tes couleurs préférées ?	What are your favorite colors?	Feminine Plural
Quel âge as-tu ?	How old are you? (What age do you have?)	Masculine Singular
Quelle est ta nationalité ?	What is your nationality?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont les avantages de ce produit ?	What are the advantages of this product?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont les conditions de vente ?	What are the terms of sale?	Feminine Plural
Quel est le problème ?	What is the problem?	Masculine Singular
Quelle est la solution ?	What is the solution?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont les ingrédients de cette recette ?	What are the ingredients of this recipe?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont les conséquences de cette décision ?	What are the consequences of this decision?	Feminine Plural
Quel temps fait-il aujourd’hui ?	What is the weather like today?	Masculine Singular
Quelle est ta profession ?	What is your profession?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont les pays que tu as visités ?	What are the countries that you have visited?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont les langues que tu parles ?	What are the languages that you speak?	Feminine Plural
Quel est ton film préféré ?	What is your favorite movie?	Masculine Singular
Quelle est ta chanson préférée ?	What is your favorite song?	Feminine Singular
Quels sont tes plats préférés ?	What are your favorite dishes?	Masculine Plural
Quelles sont les villes que tu as aimées ?	What are the cities that you liked?	Feminine Plural
Quel est ton numéro de téléphone ?	What is your phone number?	Masculine Singular
Quelle est ton adresse e-mail ?	What is your email address?	Feminine Singular

Examples with Ce qui

The following table demonstrates “ce qui” acting as the subject of a clause, highlighting its role in expressing general truths or facts.

Sentence	Translation
Ce qui est important, c’est l’amour.	What is important is love.
Ce qui me plaît, c’est la musique.	What pleases me is music.
Ce qui compte, c’est l’intention.	What counts is the intention.
Ce qui est rare est cher.	What is rare is expensive.
Ce qui est fait est fait.	What is done is done.
Ce qui m’étonne, c’est son silence.	What surprises me is his silence.
Ce qui me dérange, c’est le bruit.	What bothers me is the noise.
Ce qui est nécessaire, c’est du repos.	What is necessary is rest.
Ce qui est certain, c’est qu’il viendra.	What is certain is that he will come.
Ce qui est évident, c’est son talent.	What is obvious is his talent.
Ce qui est dommage, c’est la pluie.	What is a pity is the rain.
Ce qui est surprenant, c’est sa réaction.	What is surprising is his reaction.
Ce qui est amusant, c’est son humour.	What is funny is his humor.
Ce qui est essentiel, c’est la communication.	What is essential is communication.
Ce qui est difficile, c’est de choisir.	What is difficult is to choose.
Ce qui est intéressant, c’est son point de vue.	What is interesting is his point of view.
Ce qui est important, c’est d’essayer.	What is important is to try.
Ce qui est bien, c’est la liberté.	What is good is freedom.
Ce qui est mauvais, c’est la jalousie.	What is bad is jealousy.
Ce qui est cher, c’est le luxe.	What is expensive is luxury.
Ce qui est gratuit, c’est rare.	What is free is rare.
Ce qui est nouveau, c’est excitant.	What is new is exciting.
Ce qui est vieux, c’est parfois précieux.	What is old is sometimes precious.
Ce qui est compliqué, c’est la vie.	What is complicated is life.
Ce qui est simple, c’est beau.	What is simple is beautiful.

Examples with Ce que

This table illustrates “ce que” acting as the direct object of a clause, showcasing its role in referring to something previously mentioned or understood.

Sentence	Translation
Ce que je veux, c’est un café.	What I want is a coffee.
Ce que tu dis est vrai.	What you say is true.
Ce que je pense, c’est qu’il a tort.	What I think is that he is wrong.
Ce que j’aime, c’est le chocolat.	What I like is chocolate.
Ce que tu fais est incroyable.	What you are doing is incredible.
Ce que je sais, c’est qu’il est parti.	What I know is that he has left.
Ce que je vois est magnifique.	What I see is magnificent.
Ce que tu ignores est important.	What you ignore is important.
Ce que je ressens est fort.	What I feel is strong.
Ce que tu comprends est essentiel.	What you understand is essential.
Ce que je crois est juste.	What I believe is right.
Ce que tu demandes est difficile.	What you ask is difficult.
Ce que je propose est une solution.	What I propose is a solution.
Ce que tu suggères est intéressant.	What you suggest is interesting.
Ce que je préfère, c’est le silence.	What I prefer is silence.
Ce que tu choisis est ton droit.	What you choose is your right.
Ce que je crains, c’est l’avenir.	What I fear is the future.
Ce que tu espères est possible.	What you hope is possible.
Ce que je souhaite, c’est la paix.	What I wish for is peace.
Ce que tu veux, tu peux l’obtenir.	What you want, you can get it.
Ce que je dis est la vérité.	What I say is the truth.
Ce que tu penses m’importe.	What you think matters to me.
Ce que je fais est pour toi.	What I do is for you.
Ce que tu as est précieux.	What you have is precious.
Ce que je suis est le résultat de mes choix.	What I am is the result of my choices.
Ce que tu deviendras dépend de toi.	What you will become depends on you.

Usage Rules

Using “what” correctly in French involves adhering to specific grammatical rules. Here’s a breakdown:

• Que: Use “que” as a relative pronoun to replace a direct object in a relative clause. It connects the clause to a noun. Use “que” as a conjunction to introduce subordinate clauses.
• Quoi: Use “quoi” in questions, typically at the end or after a preposition. It refers to an unspecified object or situation. Avoid using “quoi” at the beginning of a question unless after a preposition.
• Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles: These must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. “Quel” is masculine singular, “quelle” is feminine singular, “quels” is masculine plural, and “quelles” is feminine plural. Use them to ask about the type or kind of something.
• Ce qui: Always precedes a verb when “what” is the subject of the clause. It introduces clauses that act as the subject of a sentence.
• Ce que: Always introduces a clause where “what” is the direct object. It refers to something previously mentioned or understood.

Important Note: Contractions are common. “Que” becomes “qu'” before a vowel or silent “h.” For example, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” (What are you doing?).

Exception: In informal speech, “quoi” can sometimes replace “que” at the beginning of a question, though this is generally discouraged in formal settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often make specific mistakes when using “what” in French. Here are some common errors and how to correct them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
~~Quoi tu fais ?~~	Que fais-tu ? / Tu fais quoi ?	“Quoi” is rarely used at the beginning of a question. Use “que” in formal questions or “quoi” at the end in informal questions.
~~Quel voiture as-tu ?~~	Quelle voiture as-tu ?	“Voiture” (car) is feminine, so the adjective must be “quelle.”
~~Ce que est important…~~	Ce qui est important…	“Ce qui” is used when “what” is the subject of the clause.
~~Ce qui je veux…~~	Ce que je veux…	“Ce que” is used when “what” is the object of the clause.
~~De que parles-tu ?~~	De quoi parles-tu ?	When “what” follows a preposition, use “quoi.”
~~Je sais quoi tu as fait.~~	Je sais ce que tu as fait.	Use “ce que” to mean “what” when it is the object of “sais”.
~~Quel sont tes livres préférés?~~	Quels sont tes livres préférés?	“Livres” is masculine plural, so “quels” is required.
~~Quoi tu penses?~~	À quoi penses-tu? / Que penses-tu?	“Quoi” must come after a preposition, or “que” can be used at the beginning of the question.
~~Je ne sais pas que faire.~~	Je ne sais pas quoi faire.	When “what” follows “savoir” and introduces an infinitive, use “quoi.”.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these exercises. Answers are provided below each exercise.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of “what” (que, quoi, quel, quelle, quels, quelles, ce qui, ce que).

1. _______ tu fais ce soir ?
2. _______ est ton livre préféré ?
3. Je ne sais pas _______ dire.
4. _______ est important, c’est d’être honnête.
5. _______ je veux, c’est du bonheur.
6. _______ sont tes projets d’avenir ?
7. De _______ parles-tu ?
8. _______ tu as acheté est très beau.
9. _______ est ta profession ?
10. _______ se passe ici ?

Answers:

1. Quoi / Que
2. Quel
3. quoi
4. Ce qui
5. Ce que
6. Quels
7. quoi
8. Ce que
9. Quelle
10. Quoi

Exercise 2: Translation

Translate the following sentences into French using the appropriate form of “what.”

1. What are you reading?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. What I need is rest.
4. What he said is true.
5. What are you thinking about?
6. What is important is to try.
7. What are your hobbies?
8. What do you want?
9. What is

   is the capital of France?

10. What are you waiting for?

Answers:

1. Que lis-tu ? / Tu lis quoi ?
2. Quelle est ta couleur préférée ?
3. Ce dont j’ai besoin, c’est du repos. / Ce qu’il me faut, c’est du repos.
4. Ce qu’il a dit est vrai.
5. À quoi penses-tu ?
6. Ce qui est important, c’est d’essayer.
7. Quels sont tes hobbies ?
8. Que veux-tu ? / Tu veux quoi ?
9. Quelle est la capitale de la France ?
10. Qu’attends-tu ? / Tu attends quoi ?

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. Quoi tu fais ce week-end?
2. Quel voiture est-ce que tu conduis?
3. Ce qui je veux, c’est voyager.
4. De que tu parles?
5. Je ne sais pas que faire.

Answers:

1. Incorrect: Quoi tu fais ce week-end? Correct: Que fais-tu ce week-end? / Tu fais quoi ce week-end?
2. Incorrect: Quel voiture est-ce que tu conduis? Correct: Quelle voiture est-ce que tu conduis?
3. Incorrect: Ce qui je veux, c’est voyager. Correct: Ce que je veux, c’est voyager.
4. Incorrect: De que tu parles? Correct: De quoi tu parles?
5. Incorrect: Je ne sais pas que faire. Correct: Je ne sais pas quoi faire.

Advanced Topics

For more advanced learners, consider these nuances:

• Subjunctive Mood: In certain subordinate clauses introduced by “que,” the subjunctive mood is required. For instance, “Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne” (I don’t think that he is coming).
• Indirect Questions: When “what” appears in indirect questions, the structure can change. For example, “Je me demande ce qu’il fait” (I wonder what he is doing).
• Idiomatic Expressions: French includes many idiomatic expressions using “quoi” or “que.” Learning these can enhance fluency. For example, “Quoi qu’il en soit” (Whatever the case may be).

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering the different forms of “what” in French—que, quoi, quel/quelle/quels/quelles, ce qui, and ce que—is essential for effective communication. Understanding their specific uses, structural rules, and common pitfalls will greatly enhance your fluency and accuracy. By practicing and applying the knowledge gained from this guide, you can confidently navigate the nuances of expressing “what” in various contexts, significantly improving your French language skills.