Look at these sentences:
Les boutons de manchette dont il a envie sont trop chers.
Les boutons de manchette desquels il a envie sont trop chers.The cuff links he wants (of which he has envy) are too expensive.
Les boutons de manchette desquels il a envie sont trop chers.The cuff links he wants (of which he has envy) are too expensive.
La fille de qui il a peur habite ici.
La fille de laquelle il a peur habite ici.
La fille dont il a peur habite ici.The girl he is scared of (of whom he is scared) lives here.
La fille de laquelle il a peur habite ici.
La fille dont il a peur habite ici.The girl he is scared of (of whom he is scared) lives here.
To introduce relative clauses with the preposition de, there are three ways in French:
- dont (of/about which/whom)
- de qui (of/about whom), which can only apply to living things
- The contracted forms of de + quel (of/about which): duquel / de laquelle / desquels / desquelles.
These forms agree in gender and number with the object they refer to.
ATTENTION:
You can never have de or duquel or dont at the end of the clause like in English.
-> You cannot say:
La fille qui je parle de
La fille laquelle je parle de The girl whom I'm speaking of
La fille je parle dont
-> You cannot say:
La fille qui je parle de
La fille laquelle je parle de The girl whom I'm speaking of
La fille je parle dont
See also Dont = Whose
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Examples and resources
Les chaussures dont tu as besoin sont dans le placard.
Les chaussures desquelles tu as besoin sont dans le placard.The shoes (which) you need are in the cupboard.
Les chaussures desquelles tu as besoin sont dans le placard.The shoes (which) you need are in the cupboard.
Le garçon de qui tu parles, est très gentil.
Le garçon duquel tu parles, est très gentil.
Le garçon dont tu parles, est très gentil.The boy you are speaking of (of whom you are speaking), is very nice.
Le garçon duquel tu parles, est très gentil.
Le garçon dont tu parles, est très gentil.The boy you are speaking of (of whom you are speaking), is very nice.
Les boutons de manchette dont il a envie sont trop chers.
Les boutons de manchette desquels il a envie sont trop chers.The cuff links he wants (of which he has envy) are too expensive.
Les boutons de manchette desquels il a envie sont trop chers.The cuff links he wants (of which he has envy) are too expensive.