These examples show how ce que is used:
How to know when to use ce que instead of ce qui in French
The pattern to spot is that we use ce que when the next word is a subject pronoun (je/tu/il etc.) or a noun.
Note that ce que becomes ce qu' in front of a vowel or a mute h.
Contrast this with ce qui - notice the words immediately following:
Read more about Ce qui (vs ce que) = what, which (relative pronouns)
When to use ce qui or ce que versus qui or que ?
In cases where ce qui / ce que would also be translated by which in English, you need to ask yourself: What is que/qui/ce que/ce qui referring to?
If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use que/qui.
If it refers to the whole part of the sentence, the whole idea, then it will be ce que/ce qui.
Mes plantes, que j'arrose tous les jours, sont très belles.
My plants, which I water every day, are very beautiful.
Here que refers to plants.
Here ce que refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas.
ATTENTION: Case of quoi
Quoi will be used when what is followed by an infinitive = "what to do, what to think...":
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Tu ne comprends pas ce que je t'explique.
You don't understand what I'm explaining to you.
Il croit ce que la télé lui raconte.
He believes what the TV tells him.
Lise pense à ce qu'il lui a dit.
Lise thinks about what he told her.
Tu ne devineras jamais ce que Paul a fait!
You will never guess what Paul did!
Je fais ce que je veux.
I do what I want.
J'aime les bananes, ce que tu trouves fascinant.
I love bananas, which you find fascinating.
Micro kwiz: Ce que (vs ce qui) = what, which (relative pronouns)
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Lisa
Kwiziq community member
10 June 2017
3 replies
Hello Aurélie,
Lisa
Kwiziq community member
10/06/17
Oops pressed send too fast. Is qu'est-ce que tu m'as acheté wrong as compared to asking Ce que tu m'as acheté
Chris
Kwiziq community member
13/06/17
Bien que je ne sois Aurélie j'essaie d'y répondre. Le premier example me semble juste. Mais le second n'est pas une question. C'est le debut d'une phrase relative.
-- Chris.
-- Chris.
Lisa
Kwiziq community member
13/06/17
Merci Claus. I was answering one of the Kwizzes and used the first phrase to lead into the answer. I have forgotten the whole sentence (sorry, thought the context would be able to be seen by admin) but I figured it should have allowed both answers and not given me a red dot!
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
13 April 2017
9 replies
Can you please spell out the difference between using que/qui and ce qui/ce que
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
18/04/17
Bonjour Steven !
Do you mean when to use "quE" vs "quI", or "CE que/CE qui" vs "QUE/QUI" ?
Cordially
Do you mean when to use "quE" vs "quI", or "CE que/CE qui" vs "QUE/QUI" ?
Cordially
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
18/04/17
The latter...Ce que/ce qui vs que/qui -I think I'm getting a better grasp of this..I have studied it more now than when I asked the question...and it is becoming clearer...but I have to pause and think a lot before answering...perhaps your clarification would add to my 'nailing it'...merci...Steve
Kwiziq community member
19/04/17
Bonjour Steve !
Both "ce que/ce qui" and "que/qui" are pronouns, which means they repeat something previously stated.
"The table *that* I bought." -> here *that* repeats "table"
The difference between "ce que" and "que" is what they're referring to.
As we explained in the related lesson, "que"(which/that) replaces a noun, whereas "ce que"(what/which) replaces a whole clause (i.e. containing a verb):
"*I eat a lot of bread*, which makes me bloated."
-> Here it's the whole statement which is repeated in "which" (It's the fact that I eat too much bread that makes me bloated) = ce qui
Je mange beaucoup de pain, ce qui me ballone.
"I love *the dog* that you got for me."
-> Here it's only "the dog" which is repeated in "that" (you got me the dog) = que
J'adore le chien que tu m'as offert.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Both "ce que/ce qui" and "que/qui" are pronouns, which means they repeat something previously stated.
"The table *that* I bought." -> here *that* repeats "table"
The difference between "ce que" and "que" is what they're referring to.
As we explained in the related lesson, "que"(which/that) replaces a noun, whereas "ce que"(what/which) replaces a whole clause (i.e. containing a verb):
"*I eat a lot of bread*, which makes me bloated."
-> Here it's the whole statement which is repeated in "which" (It's the fact that I eat too much bread that makes me bloated) = ce qui
Je mange beaucoup de pain, ce qui me ballone.
"I love *the dog* that you got for me."
-> Here it's only "the dog" which is repeated in "that" (you got me the dog) = que
J'adore le chien que tu m'as offert.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
19/04/17
Bonjour Steve !
Both "ce que/ce qui" and "que/qui" are pronouns, which means they repeat something previously stated.
"The table *that* I bought." -> here *that* repeats "table"
The difference between "ce que" and "que" is what they're referring to.
As we explained in the related lesson, "que"(which/that) replaces a noun, whereas "ce que"(what/which) replaces a whole clause (i.e. containing a verb):
"*I eat a lot of bread*, which makes me bloated."
-> Here it's the whole statement which is repeated in "which" (It's the fact that I eat too much bread that makes me bloated) = ce qui
Je mange beaucoup de pain, ce qui me ballone.
"I love *the dog* that you got for me."
-> Here it's only "the dog" which is repeated in "that" (you got me the dog) = que
J'adore le chien que tu m'as offert.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Both "ce que/ce qui" and "que/qui" are pronouns, which means they repeat something previously stated.
"The table *that* I bought." -> here *that* repeats "table"
The difference between "ce que" and "que" is what they're referring to.
As we explained in the related lesson, "que"(which/that) replaces a noun, whereas "ce que"(what/which) replaces a whole clause (i.e. containing a verb):
"*I eat a lot of bread*, which makes me bloated."
-> Here it's the whole statement which is repeated in "which" (It's the fact that I eat too much bread that makes me bloated) = ce qui
Je mange beaucoup de pain, ce qui me ballone.
"I love *the dog* that you got for me."
-> Here it's only "the dog" which is repeated in "that" (you got me the dog) = que
J'adore le chien que tu m'as offert.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
19/04/17
Thanks Aurélie...getting it a lot more...had made a little page summarising the appropriate rules info...which you have just reiterated...so will go over it until it is second nature...thank you...Steve
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
19/04/17
The difference between qui and ce qui you haven't mentioned...if you can please clarify and I can move on...Steve... Ce qui is before a verb and refers also to the whole sentence - qui also refers to the preceding noun...so what is the difference here between use of que or qui )))
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
19/04/17
I guess that que refers to the preceding noun and what follows is a pronoun...with qui -this refers to the preceding noun but is followed by a verb...is that correct?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
19/04/17
Oui exactement Stephen, vous avez parfaitement compris !
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
19/04/17
Merci beaucoup !!!!
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
11/04/17
Bonjour Don !
I had a look at the lesson, and actually the question you're referring to was "Which is *not* correct?", the answer being indeed "Vous pouvez prendre tout *ce qu'*est sur la table." as "ce qui" would be the correct option here.
As for the case of "tout ce que/tout ce qui", this is actually the object of a different lesson in the system, so thanks to you, I've now moved this question accordingly.
Note that "tout" used on its own (not like "le tout") is always a pronoun followed by "ce".
Have a look at our lesson on "tout ce que/tout ce qui":
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/tout-ce-qui-tout-ce-que-all-everything-that
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
I had a look at the lesson, and actually the question you're referring to was "Which is *not* correct?", the answer being indeed "Vous pouvez prendre tout *ce qu'*est sur la table." as "ce qui" would be the correct option here.
As for the case of "tout ce que/tout ce qui", this is actually the object of a different lesson in the system, so thanks to you, I've now moved this question accordingly.
Note that "tout" used on its own (not like "le tout") is always a pronoun followed by "ce".
Have a look at our lesson on "tout ce que/tout ce qui":
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/tout-ce-qui-tout-ce-que-all-everything-that
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Don
Kwiziq community member
11/04/17
So then I guess my real problem was knowing when "tout" was a noun, which was crucial to knowing whether to use "ce" or not. You're saying the only time "tout" is a noun is when it is preceded by an article? If so, would these two sentences then be correct? "C'est le tout que nous devons. C'est tout ce que nous devons." Thanks for your help.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
28/01/16
Bonjour Helena,
That's a very interesting question indeed!
Let's point out first that we're talking about the relative pronouns here, which are used to introduce a new information in a sentence (as opposed to question words like "what?").
Once you know this, the separation is quite simple: "qui/que" can mean "who/which/that ..." whereas "ce qui/ce que" mean "what ...".
e.g. La fille que je regarde. (The girl whom[m]/that I'm watching.)
e.g. Je fais ce que je veux. (I do what I want.)
I hope that's helpful!
That's a very interesting question indeed!
Let's point out first that we're talking about the relative pronouns here, which are used to introduce a new information in a sentence (as opposed to question words like "what?").
Once you know this, the separation is quite simple: "qui/que" can mean "who/which/that ..." whereas "ce qui/ce que" mean "what ...".
e.g. La fille que je regarde. (The girl whom[m]/that I'm watching.)
e.g. Je fais ce que je veux. (I do what I want.)
I hope that's helpful!
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
28/01/16
Precision: in cases where "ce qui / ce que" would also be translated by "which" in English, you need to ask yourself: What does "que/qui/ce que/ce qui" is referring to?
If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use "que/qui".
If it refers to the whole part of the sentence, the whole idea, then it will be "ce que/ce qui".
e.g. Les gens que je rencontre ... (The people which I meet...)
Here "que" refers to "people"
e.g. J'aime les bananes, ce que tu trouves fascinant. (I love bananas, which you find fascinating.)
Here "ce que" refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas
:)
If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use "que/qui".
If it refers to the whole part of the sentence, the whole idea, then it will be "ce que/ce qui".
e.g. Les gens que je rencontre ... (The people which I meet...)
Here "que" refers to "people"
e.g. J'aime les bananes, ce que tu trouves fascinant. (I love bananas, which you find fascinating.)
Here "ce que" refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas
:)
Helena
Kwiziq community member
29/01/16
Thank you!!! That was so clearly explained too - even if I'm confused in the future I now know how to figure out which one to use! :)
Ron
Kwiziq community member
10/04/17
J'aime les bananes, ce que tu trouves fascinant. (I love bananas, which you find fascinating.)
Here "ce que" refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas. . .
While I understand the explanation given, using the rule of thumb about following a noun, "If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use "que/qui"." then que could also be correct, i.e. he finds bananas fascinating -- of course in reality that would be interesting that someone found bananas fascinating, like he/she had never seen a banana.
I do believe the better example is: "Je fais ce que je veux. (I do what I want.)"
Here "ce que" refers to the whole fact that I love bananas, not just to the bananas. . .
While I understand the explanation given, using the rule of thumb about following a noun, "If it refers to a noun (expressed before), then you will use "que/qui"." then que could also be correct, i.e. he finds bananas fascinating -- of course in reality that would be interesting that someone found bananas fascinating, like he/she had never seen a banana.
I do believe the better example is: "Je fais ce que je veux. (I do what I want.)"
tinoe
Kwiziq community member
15 November 2017
1 reply
the order of pronouns
e.g me te se nous vous etc
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
16 November 2017
16/11/17
Please take a look at our lesson: https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/double-object-pronouns-using-direct-and-indirect-object-pronouns-together