ce dont

What...of with Ce Dont

Level 3

Use ce dont to say 'what' when the action involves the preposition de (e.g., avoir besoin de, parler de).

How It Works

The relative pronoun ce dont is essential for connecting ideas when the verb in the relative clause requires the preposition de.

1. The 'De' Requirement
Many French verbs require de before their object. Common examples include:

  • avoir besoin de (to need)
  • avoir envie de (to want/feel like)
  • parler de (to talk about)
  • se souvenir de (to remember)
  • se douter de (to suspect)

When you want to say 'what' in relation to these verbs, you use ce dont because the de is built into the dont.

2. Referring to a Whole Idea
Beyond just meaning 'what', ce dont can refer back to an entire preceding sentence or concept, translated as 'which'. For example: Il est en retard, ce dont je me doutais (He is late, which I suspected).

3. Structure and Comparison
Unlike dont, which refers back to a specific noun, ce dont is 'indefinite.' It functions similarly to ce qui and ce que, but specifically for de-phrases.

4. No Elision
Unlike ce que (which becomes ce qu'), ce dont never changes its spelling, even before a vowel: ce dont il s'agit.

Examples (5)

  1. C'est ce dont j'ai besoin.

    That is what I need.

    Word by Word: It is that of which I have need.

    Since the verb is 'avoir besoin de', we must use 'ce dont' to represent the object.

  2. Je ne comprends pas ce dont tu parles.

    I don't understand what you are talking about.

    Word by Word: I not understand not that of which you speak.

    The verb 'parler de' (to talk about) triggers the use of 'ce dont'.

  3. Ce dont je suis fier, c'est de mon travail.

    What I am proud of is my work.

    Word by Word: That of which I am proud, it is of my work.

    The adjective 'fier' requires 'de'. In this emphatic structure, the 'de' is often repeated after 'c'est'.

  4. Dis-moi ce dont tu as envie.

    Tell me what you feel like (having/doing).

    Word by Word: Tell me that of which you have desire.

    Uses 'avoir envie de'. Note that 'dont' does not elide before 'as'.

  5. Il a plu toute la journée, ce dont je me doutais.

    It rained all day, which I suspected.

    Word by Word: It has rained all the day, that of which I myself suspected.

    Here, 'ce dont' refers back to the entire preceding idea (the fact that it rained). The verb 'se douter de' requires 'dont'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ce que' with verbs that require 'de'.

    C'est ce que j'ai besoin.
    C'est ce dont j'ai besoin.

    In English, we say 'what I need'. In French, because the phrase is 'avoir besoin DE', you cannot use 'ce que'. You must use 'ce dont'.

  • Forgetting the 'de' in 'ce dont... c'est...' structures.

    Ce dont j'ai envie, c'est un café.
    Ce dont j'ai envie, c'est d'un café.

    Careful French repeats the 'de' in the second part ('c'est d'un café'). The shorter 'c'est un café' is also very common in speech.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ce dontLevel 3What...of with Ce Dont

Learn This First

To understand 'ce dont', you first need to know how the relative pronoun 'dont' functions to replace 'de' phrases. You also need to understand the concept of indefinite relative pronouns (like 'ce que' and 'ce qui') where 'ce' acts as a placeholder for 'the thing' or 'what' when there is no specific noun being referred to.

Words in This Pattern