Que or dont? in French

Read more about how to use Que or dont? in French.
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Que or dont?

Relative pronouns are used to link two related ideas into a single sentence, thereby avoiding repetition. The French relative pronouns qui, que, oĂč, dont, lequel variously mean 'who', 'whom', 'that', 'which', 'whose', 'where', or 'when'.

J’ai achetĂ© du vin. Victor adore ce vin. → J’ai achetĂ© du vin que Victor adore. I bought some wine. Victor loves this wine. → I bought some wine which Victor loves.
J’ai achetĂ© du vin. Victor m’a parlĂ© de ce vin. → J’ai achetĂ© du vin dont Victor m’a parlĂ©. I bought some wine. Victor told me about this wine. → I bought some wine which Victor told me about.

Unlike in English, these relative pronouns are required in French.
We can't say J’ai achetĂ© du vin Victor adore or J’ai achetĂ© du vin Victor m’a parlĂ©.
Let's look at the difference between the relative pronouns que and dont.

‱ Que (or qu’ if used before a vowel) replaces a direct object (a complĂ©ment d'objet direct in French). This is the part of speech (often a person or a thing) which follows a verb without a preposition.

Muriel prĂ©pare un gĂąteau. Nous mangerons ce gĂąteau ce soir. → Muriel prĂ©pare un gĂąteau que nous mangerons ce soir. Muriel is making a cake. We'll eat this cake tonight. → Muriel is making a cake which we'll eat tonight.

‱ Dont is used when the noun replaced is an object of the preposition de. We usually use it with these expressions (se souvenir de, parler de, avoir besoin de, avoir peur de, ĂȘtre content de, etc.) or these noun phrases (le pĂšre de Victor, les amis de mon frĂšre, etc.).

C’est le chien de Muriel. Marcel a peur de ce chien. → C’est le chien de Muriel dont Marcel a peur. This is Muriel's dog. Marcel is scared of this dog. → It's Muriel's dog of which Marcel is scared. / This is Muriel's dog which Marcel is scared of.
Marcel termine un rapport. Il est satisfait de ce rapport. → Marcel termine un rapport dont il est satisfait. Marcel has finished a report. He is pleased with this report. → Marcel has finished a report which he is very pleased with.
Je te prĂ©sente mon frĂšre. Les amis de mon frĂšre vont bientĂŽt arriver. → Je te prĂ©sente mon frĂšre dont les amis vont bientĂŽt arriver. Let me introduce my brother. My brother's friends will arrive soon. → Let me introduce my brother, whose friends will arrive soon.

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