Qu’est-ce qui te manque?

Question

I don’t understand how to know whether this refers to a person (WHOM do you miss) or to a thing (WHAT are you missing).

Accepted Answer

Hi Nancy,
The relative pronouns qui and que are used differently, qui replaces a noun/subject and que a noun/object.
Furthermore, qui is never elided so qu' is que here.
With an odd construction like the verb 'manquer', I can understand your confusion but -
Qu'est ce qui te manques ? = What are you lacking/short of ?
If it was a person it would be -
Qui est-ce qui te manques ?/ Qui te manques ? = Who are you missing?
Hope this helps?

Answer

Bonjour Nancy,

Qui est petit ? = Who is small?
Qui est-ce qui fais ce bruit ? = Who (is it who) is making that noise ?

-> in both examples, "Qui" is a person. So,"qui/qui est-ce qui" + [conjugated verb] ? = Who + [conjugated verb]?.
 
Attention:
Qui est-ce que tu aimes ? = Whom do you love?
-> "Qui est-ce que" + [noun/subject] + [conjugated verb] ?= Whom ?
 
Take a look the link below:
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/how-to-ask-whom-qui-qui-est-ce-que-questions

Remember: 
Qui est-ce qui + [conjugated verb] ? = Who + [conjugated verb]?
versus
Qui est-ce que + [noun/subject] + [conjugated verb] ? = Whom do/did + [subject] + [verb]?

I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Bonjour Nancy,It is tricky   --  In this case "qui" is a relative pronoun and the verb manquer is being employed intransitively (to an indirect object) te.So we have effectively "what (que) is it (est-ce) that (qui) is lacking / missing (manque) for / to  / from you (te) "Qu'est-ce qui te manque" I hope this helps.Bonne continuation.Jim

Answer

I do understand the difference between a subject and an object. What I don’t understand is how to tell whether QUI is a person (who) or a thing (what) in the following sentences:

Qui est petit? (Is QUI a person or a thing?).

Qui est-ce qui est petit? (Is QUI EST-CE QUI a person or a thing?).