français · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Qui and que in relative clauses
Join two statements by tracking whether the missing element is subject or object.
Understand the choice
Relative pronouns remove repetition while preserving grammatical roles. Inspect the clause after the gap: if no subject remains, choose qui; if a subject is already present and the object is missing, choose que.
Core rule: Use qui when the antecedent is the subject of the relative verb; use que/qu’ when it is the direct object.
Notice it in context
La collègue qui dirige le projet est celle que tu as rencontrée.
The colleague who leads the project is the one you met.
Qui is subject of dirige; que is the object of as rencontrée before subject tu.
Voici le livre qui explique cette méthode.
Here is the book that explains this method.
The book performs explique, so qui is the relative subject.
Le film qu’ils recommandent dure deux heures.
The film they recommend lasts two hours.
Ils already supplies the subject; qu’ replaces the recommended object.
What to remember
- Qui does not elide before a vowel; que becomes qu’.
- A preceding direct object can trigger written past-participle agreement: la collègue que tu as rencontrée.
Common trap: Do not choose qui for a person and que for a thing. Either can refer to people or things; the clause role decides.