français · B2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Dont and lequel
Connect clauses when the missing phrase begins with de or another preposition.
Understand the choice
Advanced relative choice begins with the verb or expression inside the clause. Discuter de produces dont. Faire référence à produces auquel. A spatial phrase such as près de may require près duquel rather than dont.
Core rule: Use dont for de + noun/person; use lequel forms after many other prepositions, with auquel/auxquels/auxquelles for à and duquel/desquels/desquelles for compound de phrases.
Notice it in context
Voici le rapport dont nous avons discuté et auquel je fais référence.
Here is the report we discussed and to which I refer.
Dont replaces de ce rapport; auquel replaces à ce rapport and agrees with masculine singular rapport.
C’est une décision dont les conséquences seront importantes.
It is a decision whose consequences will be significant.
Dont can express possession: the consequences of the decision.
La table sous laquelle nous avons trouvé la clé était poussiéreuse.
The table under which we found the key was dusty.
After preposition sous, laquelle agrees with feminine table.
What to remember
- Dont cannot normally follow another preposition; use près duquel, à côté duquel, and similar forms.
- For people after a preposition, qui is often possible: la personne avec qui je travaille.
Common trap: Do not choose dont simply because English says whose/which. Recover the exact French preposition required inside the relative clause.