Relative Prepositions Similarity

Wafi Fathurrahman A.B2Kwiziq community member

Relative Prepositions Similarity


In the other lessons, i saw that "De qui" "Qui" "Dont" "Lequel" and "Duquel" are having the same literal meanings in the English translation. Can, you explain this briefly?


Eg.  Le garçon à côté de qui tu es assise a de beaux yeux.


Eg. Voici les amis au sujet desquels nous sommes inquiets. 


Eg. Le garçon dont tu parles est très gentil.


Eg. La fille derrière qui je suis assis est belle. 


All of them means "Whom' may i know why? and all of them seem so complicated while they literally mean the same. 

Asked 1 year ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

OK, I'll give it a try.

Dont is used to replace verbial phrases, i.e., involving a verb + de. Therefore parler de qqn is replaced by dont: Le garçon dont tu parles.

De qui is used in adverbial phrases, i.e., those involving some preposition + de. Therefore derrière de qqn. requires qui:  La fille derrière qui je suis assis est belle.

The others -- duquel, desquels, desquelles -- are just contractions of de + le or de + les.

Relative Prepositions Similarity


In the other lessons, i saw that "De qui" "Qui" "Dont" "Lequel" and "Duquel" are having the same literal meanings in the English translation. Can, you explain this briefly?


Eg.  Le garçon à côté de qui tu es assise a de beaux yeux.


Eg. Voici les amis au sujet desquels nous sommes inquiets. 


Eg. Le garçon dont tu parles est très gentil.


Eg. La fille derrière qui je suis assis est belle. 


All of them means "Whom' may i know why? and all of them seem so complicated while they literally mean the same. 

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Clever stuff happening!