Relative pronouns: lequel in French

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Relative pronouns: lequel

Reminder: Relative pronouns such as qui, que, où, dont and lequel are used to avoid repetition within a sentence and usually replace a person or a thing.
C’est une très bonne idée de reportage. Je n’avais pas pensé à cette idée.
C’est une très bonne idée de reportage à laquelle je n’avais pas pensé. (à laquelle = à cette idée)
It’s a very good idea for a report. I hadn’t thought about this idea.
It’s a very good idea for a report which I hadn’t thought about.
C’est une très bonne idée de reportage. Cette idée va plaire à notre public.
C’est une très bonne idée de reportage qui va plaire à notre public. (qui = cette idée)
It’s a very good idea for a report. This idea will please our viewers.
It’s a very good idea for a report which will please our viewers.
After the prepositions à, pour, chez, avec, sur, dans, sans, contre, en, etc, we can’t use simple relative pronouns like qui, que, où, and dont. Instead we use lequel (which) and its variations laquelle, lesquels, and lesquelles.
L’AIGF ? C’est l’agence pour laquelle je travaille. L’AIGF? It’s the agency for which I work.
La personne à côté de laquelle je me suis assis ne parle pas français. The person next to whom I am sitting doesn’t speak French.
In cases where the preposition à is used, lequel (and its variants) change to auquel, à laquelle, auxquels, and auxquelles.
Les problèmes auxquels le gouvernement s’attaque sont très difficiles à résoudre (we say s’attaquer à) The problems which the government are attacking are difficult to resolve.
Le film auquel je fais allusion est très mauvais (we say faire allusion à) The film to which I’m referring is very bad.
In cases where the preposition de is used, we use the contracted pronouns duquel, de laquelle, desquels, and desquelles. Common prepositional phrases include en face de (opposite), près de (near to), loin de (far from), à côté de (next to), à l’intérieur de (inside), etc.
L’homme aux côtés duquel je voudrais vivre toute ma vie c’est toi Victor ! The man beside which I’d like to spend my life is you Victor!
Les fleurs près desquelles je me suis endormi sentent très bon. The flowers near which I slept smelled very good.

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