ce qui
What (Subject) with Ce Qui
Use ce qui to say 'what' when it acts as the subject of the following verb. It refers to an unspecified thing, an idea, or a whole sentence.
How It Works
1. Grammatical Function
Ce qui always functions as the subject of the relative clause. This means it is immediately followed by a verb or an object pronoun (like me, te, lui).
2. Referring to Ideas, Not People
It is used to refer back to an entire preceding statement or an unspecified 'thing'. Crucially, it cannot refer to a person. For people, use qui.
3. Indirect Questions
It is used to report a question about a subject (indirect question): Je me demande ce qui fait ce bruit (I wonder what is making that noise). Note that in direct questions, you would use qu'est-ce qui.
4. No Elision
A crucial rule is that ce qui never shortens to ce qu'. Even if the next word starts with a vowel, it remains ce qui. This distinguishes it from ce que, which must elide.
5. Cleft Sentences
It is often used at the start of a sentence for emphasis: Ce qui est important, c'est... (What is important is...).
Examples (4)
- Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.
I don't know what is happening.
Word by Word: I not know not that which itself happens.
Here, 'ce qui' is the subject of the verb 'se passe'.
- Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est l'histoire.
What interests me is history.
Word by Word: That which me interests, it is the history.
This is a common 'cleft' structure used for emphasis.
- Il a plu, ce qui a gâché la fête.
It rained, which ruined the party.
Word by Word: It has rained, that which has ruined the party.
'Ce qui' refers back to the entire idea of it raining.
- Dis-moi ce qui est arrivé.
Tell me what happened.
Word by Word: Tell me that which is arrived.
Note that 'ce qui' does not elide before the vowel in 'est'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'ce qui' to refer to a person.
L'homme ce qui est là est mon frère.L'homme qui est là est mon frère.The pronoun 'ce qui' is only used for things, facts, or ideas. When referring to a specific person, use the simple relative pronoun qui.
Using 'ce qu'' instead of 'ce qui' before a vowel.
Je sais ce qu'est arrivé.Je sais ce qui est arrivé.Unlike 'que', the relative pronoun 'qui' never elides its 'i'. Always keep it as 'ce qui', even before a vowel sound.
Confusing 'ce qui' (subject) with 'ce que' (object).
Ce que me plaît, c'est le café.Ce qui me plaît, c'est le café.In this sentence, 'what' is the subject performing the action of pleasing. Therefore, you must use 'ce qui' rather than ce que.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'ce qui', you first need to be familiar with the relative pronoun 'qui' acting as a subject. You also need to understand how French handles the concept of 'what' (que/quoi) and how subjects are positioned relative to verbs in a standard sentence.
- qui (pronom relatif)Relative Pronoun Qui (Subject)
Ce qui uses the relative pronoun 'qui' to function as the subject of the relative clause.
Level 2 - que / quoiWhat with Que and Quoi
Understanding the concept of 'what' in French is necessary to grasp how 'ce qui' translates to 'what' when there is no specific antecedent.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- ce queWhat (Object) with Ce Que
The direct object counterpart to 'ce qui'. Use 'ce que' when 'what' is the object of the following verb.
Level 3 - ce dontWhat...of with Ce Dont
Used to mean 'what' when the verb requires the preposition 'de'.
Level 3 - tout ce qui / tout ce queEverything That with Tout Ce Qui/que
Adds 'tout' to mean 'everything that' or 'all that'.
Level 3 - c'est...quiEmphasizing the Subject with C'est...qui
A similar emphatic structure used to highlight a specific subject.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice ce qui in Bubblegum
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