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,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