Ce Qui, Ce Que, or Ce Dont? Understanding 'What' in French
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
If you've ever felt confused about how to say 'what' in the middle of a French sentence, you're not alone. The pronouns 'ce qui', 'ce que', and 'ce dont' all translate to 'what' or 'the thing that', but they are not interchangeable. This guide will help you understand the simple grammar behind choosing the right one.
The Core Idea: 'What' Without a Noun
Unlike the relative pronouns 'qui', 'que', and 'dont' which refer to a specific noun (the antecedent), 'ce qui', 'ce que', and 'ce dont' are used when you're talking about an idea, a concept, or an unspecified thing. The 'ce' part essentially means 'the thing' or 'the idea'.
- With a noun: `J'ai lu le livre que tu as recommandé.` (I read the book that you recommended.) Here, 'que' refers to 'le livre'.
- Without a noun: `J'ai lu ce que tu as recommandé.` (I read what you recommended.) Here, 'ce que' refers to 'the thing that' you recommended, without naming it.
Ce Qui: 'What' as the Subject
Use 'ce qui' when 'what' is the subject of the verb that immediately follows it. It is the thing or person performing the action of the verb. The structure is simple: `ce qui` + verb.
- `Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la science.` (What interests me is science.) 'Ce qui' is the subject of the verb 'intéresser'.
- `Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.` (I don't know what is happening.) 'Ce qui' is the subject of the verb 'se passer'.
- `Dis-moi ce qui te fait plaisir.` (Tell me what makes you happy.) 'Ce qui' is the subject of the verb 'faire'.
Ce Que: 'What' as the Direct Object
Use 'ce que' when 'what' is the direct object of the verb. This means it is receiving the action of the verb. In this structure, there will be another subject performing the action. The structure is `ce que` + subject + verb. Before a vowel or silent 'h', 'ce que' becomes 'ce qu''.
- `Tu peux prendre ce que tu veux.` (You can take what you want.) 'Ce que' is the direct object of 'veux'. The subject is 'tu'.
- `J'ai oublié ce que le professeur a dit.` (I forgot what the teacher said.) 'Ce que' is the object of 'a dit'. The subject is 'le professeur'.
- `C'est ce qu'il faut faire.` (That's what needs to be done.) 'Ce qu'' is the object of 'faut'. The subject is 'il'.
Your Quick Decision Guide
To choose the right pronoun, you just need to identify its role in the phrase. Ask yourself a simple question about the verb that follows.
| If you need 'what' and... | Grammatical Role | Use This Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| it is followed directly by a verb | Subject of the verb | `ce qui` |
| it is followed by a subject + verb | Direct object of the verb | `ce que` (or `ce qu'`) |
| the verb or expression that follows needs 'de' | Object of 'de' | `ce dont` |
Ce Dont: For Verbs and Expressions with 'de'
Some French verbs and expressions are automatically followed by the preposition 'de'. For example, you 'parler de' (talk about) something or 'avoir besoin de' (need) something. When 'what' is the object of such an expression, you must use 'ce dont'.
Common expressions include: `parler de`, `rêver de`, `se souvenir de`, `avoir besoin de`, `avoir envie de`, `être fier de`.
- `C'est exactement ce dont j'ai besoin.` (That's exactly what I need.) From 'avoir besoin de'.
- `Il parle de ce dont il est fier.` (He is talking about what he is proud of.) From 'être fier de'.
- `Je ne me souviens plus de ce dont nous avons discuté.` (I no longer remember what we discussed.) 'Discuter' can be used with 'de' to mean 'discuss something'.
Other Important Variations
A few other related structures are very useful for adding precision and emphasis to your French.
- **Tout ce qui / que / dont**: Adding 'tout' simply means 'everything that'. The choice between 'qui', 'que', or 'dont' follows the same rules. For example: `Il a mangé tout ce que j'ai préparé.` (He ate everything that I prepared.)
- **Referring to a whole idea**: 'Ce qui' is often used to comment on a complete sentence or situation, where it means 'which'. For example: `Il est arrivé en retard, ce qui a énervé tout le monde.` (He arrived late, which annoyed everyone.)
- **Emphatic structures**: You can use `Ce qui/que/dont...` at the start of a sentence for emphasis. For example: `Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est l'été.` (What I like most is summer.) This structure highlights the part after `c'est`.
- **Ce à quoi**: This is a less common but useful structure for verbs followed by the preposition 'à', like `penser à` or `réfléchir à`. For example: `Je sais ce à quoi tu penses.` (I know what you are thinking about.)
From Direct to Indirect Questions
When you report a question or make an indirect statement, the French question forms `Qu'est-ce qui...?` and `Qu'est-ce que...?` become `ce qui` and `ce que`.
| Direct Question | Indirect Statement |
|---|---|
| `Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?` (What is happening?) | `Je me demande ce qui se passe.` (I wonder what is happening.) |
| `Qu'est-ce que tu fais ?` (What are you doing?) | `Dis-moi ce que tu fais.` (Tell me what you are doing.) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- **Using 'quoi' in the middle of a sentence.** 'Quoi' is used in direct questions (`Tu fais quoi?`) or after a preposition (`À quoi penses-tu?`), but not as a relative pronoun. Don't say: `Je sais quoi tu veux.` The correct sentence is: `Je sais ce que tu veux.`
- **Confusing the subject and object.** This is the most frequent error. Always check if 'what' is doing the action (`ce qui`) or receiving it (`ce que`). Don't say: `J'aime ce que est beau.` The correct sentence is: `J'aime ce qui est beau.` ('what' is the subject of 'est').
- **Using a question structure in a statement.** A common mistake is to keep the `qu'est-ce que` form inside a statement. Don't say: `Je ne sais pas qu'est-ce que tu veux.` The correct sentence is: `Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux.`
Check Your Understanding
Ready to practice? Choose the correct pronoun to complete these sentences.
Quick self-check
Je vais te montrer ___ j'ai acheté au marché.
Show answer
`ce que`. 'What' is the direct object of the verb 'ai acheté' (the subject is 'j').
C'est un musicien ___ fait rêver des milliers de gens.
Show answer
`qui`. Here, the antecedent is a noun, 'un musicien', so you don't need 'ce'. The pronoun 'qui' refers to the musician and is the subject of 'fait'.
La chose ___ j'ai le plus besoin, c'est de dormir.
Show answer
`dont`. The pronoun refers to 'la chose' (a noun antecedent) and is required by the expression 'avoir besoin de'. The correct sentence is: `La chose dont j'ai le plus besoin...`.
Raconte-moi ___ s'est passé hier soir.
Show answer
`ce qui`. 'What' is the subject of the verb 's'est passé'. There is no noun antecedent.
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