ce à quoi
What...to with Ce a Quoi
Use ce à quoi to mean "what" or "that which" when the verb in your sentence is followed by the preposition à (like penser à or s'attendre à).
How It Works
The construction ce à quoi is composed of three parts: the indefinite antecedent ce (the thing), the preposition à (required by the verb), and the relative pronoun quoi (which).
1. When to use it:
You must use this pattern when the verb in the relative clause is a verbe transitif indirect taking the preposition à. Common verbs include:
- penser à (to think about)
- s'attendre à (to expect)
- tenir à (to value/care about)
- réfléchir à (to reflect on)
- répondre à (to answer to)
2. Ce à quoi vs. À quoi:
While they both translate to "what," ce à quoi is a relative pronoun used to link two parts of a sentence or start a statement about a thing. À quoi is typically used for direct or indirect questions (e.g., "Je sais à quoi tu penses"). Ce à quoi is more formal and emphasizes the 'thing' itself.
3. Important Restrictions:
- Non-living only: This pattern is strictly for abstract ideas or objects. If you are referring to a person, you must use celui/celle à qui.
- No Contraction: Unlike ce que which becomes ce qu', ce à quoi never contracts. The 'à' remains fully visible and pronounced.
Examples (4)
- Ce à quoi je pense, c'est mon avenir.
What I am thinking about is my future.
Word by Word: That to which I think, it is my future.
The verb 'penser' requires 'à'. Since we are starting the sentence with 'What', we use 'ce à quoi'.
- C'est exactement ce à quoi je m'attendais.
That is exactly what I was expecting.
Word by Word: It is exactly that to which I myself was expecting.
The verb 's'attendre à' (to expect) triggers the use of 'ce à quoi' to represent the expected thing.
- Dites-moi ce à quoi vous tenez le plus.
Tell me what you value the most.
Word by Word: Tell me that to which you hold the most.
The expression 'tenir à' means to value or care about something. 'Ce à quoi' represents that valued thing.
- Ce à quoi il a répondu était très intelligent.
What he responded to was very intelligent.
Word by Word: That to which he has responded was very intelligent.
Because one 'répond à' (responds to) something, 'ce à quoi' is used to link the response to the description.
Common Mistakes
Dropping the 'ce' at the beginning of a sentence.
À quoi je pense est secret.Ce à quoi je pense est secret.In French, a relative clause cannot stand alone as the subject of a sentence without an antecedent like 'ce'.
Using 'ce que' for verbs that require 'à'.
C'est ce que je m'attendais.C'est ce à quoi je m'attendais.Since the verb is 's'attendre à', you must include the 'à' in the relative pronoun construction.
Using 'ce à quoi' to refer to a person.
C'est l'homme ce à quoi je parlais.C'est l'homme à qui je parlais.'Quoi' is only for things. For people, use 'qui' or 'lequel/laquelle'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'ce a quoi', you first need to be familiar with how the preposition 'a' functions with certain verbs (like 'penser a'). You also need to understand how 'ce' acts as a neutral antecedent ('that which') and how 'quoi' functions as a relative pronoun when following a preposition.
- àLocation, Direction with a
The pattern 'ce a quoi' is used specifically to replace phrases introduced by the preposition 'a'.
Level 1 - que / quoiWhat with Que and Quoi
Understanding the use of 'quoi' as a relative pronoun for inanimate objects is essential for this construction.
Level 1 - ce queWhat (Object) with Ce Que
This pattern is the indirect object equivalent of the relative pronoun 'ce que', used when the verb requires the preposition 'a'.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- ce quiWhat (Subject) with Ce Qui
Used for 'what' when it functions as the subject of the relative clause.
Level 3 - ce dontWhat...of with Ce Dont
Used for 'what' when the verb in the relative clause requires the preposition 'de'.
Level 3 - Verbs that take a or de where English expects no preposition
Understanding which verbs require 'à' is essential for knowing when to use 'ce à quoi'.
Level 2 - Keeping the question word in reported questions
Explains the simpler 'à quoi' structure often used in spoken French after verbs like 'savoir'.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice ce à quoi in Bubblegum
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