Qui, que, quoi, dont, où en anglais : grammaire anglaise / définition
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Qui, que, quoi, dont, où
Pour introduire une subordonnée avec “qui”, “que”, “dont”, “où”...
WHO / WHOSE / WHOM font référence à des personnes, et parfois des animaux (la personne qui..., la personne dont le père..., la personne que....) :
The lady who came yesterday was very polite. La dame qui est venue hier était très polie.
Our C.E.O., whose father was a dentist, has a nice smile. Notre PDG, dont le père était dentiste, a un beau sourire.
My sister Michelle, whom you met last Saturday, has been married twice already. Ma sœur Michelle que tu as vue samedi, a déjà été mariée deux fois.
Our C.E.O., whose father was a dentist, has a nice smile. Notre PDG, dont le père était dentiste, a un beau sourire.
My sister Michelle, whom you met last Saturday, has been married twice already. Ma sœur Michelle que tu as vue samedi, a déjà été mariée deux fois.
WHAT / WHICH font référence à des choses ou des idées :
His commitment to the company, which has always been noticed, has diminished considerably over the last few weeks. Son engagement dans la société, qui a toujours été remarqué, a largement diminué ces dernières semaines.
The chalet, which I told you about last week, is not for sale anymore. Le chalet dont je vous ai parlé la semaine dernière n'est plus à vendre.
The iceberg was what impressed me most. L'iceberg est ce qui m'a le plus impressionné.
She doesn't know what to do. Elle ne sait pas quoi faire.
The chalet, which I told you about last week, is not for sale anymore. Le chalet dont je vous ai parlé la semaine dernière n'est plus à vendre.
The iceberg was what impressed me most. L'iceberg est ce qui m'a le plus impressionné.
She doesn't know what to do. Elle ne sait pas quoi faire.
Remarque : Notez que WHICH peut également être associé à des personnes lorsqu'il introduit un choix :
I don't remember which (one) of them I met first. Je ne me souviens plus lequel des deux j'ai rencontré en premier.
WHERE et WHEN introduisent respectivement une notion de lieu ("où") et de temps ("quand") :
Meet me at the restaurant where I proposed to you. Rejoins moi au restaurant où je t'ai demandé en mariage.
So this is what it sounds like when doves cry. Donc c'est le son que font les colombes quand elles pleurent. (Chanson de Prince)
Attention : when en tant que mot relatif, ne se traduit pas systématiquement par “quand” :
The moment when we looked each other in the eyes, I knew you were the puppy for me. Au moment où nous nous sommes regardés dans les yeux, j'ai su que tu étais le chiot que je cherchais.
Do you remember the day when I fell down the stairs? Est-ce que tu te souviens du jour où je suis tombé dans les escaliers.
THAT peut faire référence à une chose ou une personne. Son emploi peut être sous-entendu :
I have lost all the CDs (that) I bought last week. J'ai perdu tous les CDs que j'ai achetés la semaine dernière.
The dress (that) she is wearing suits her perfectly. La robe qu'elle porte lui va très bien.
The man (that) we saw is my boss. L'homme que l'on a vu est mon chef.
The dress (that) she is wearing suits her perfectly. La robe qu'elle porte lui va très bien.
The man (that) we saw is my boss. L'homme que l'on a vu est mon chef.
Exercice 1
Kevin: car is in my parking space? I want it removed immediately!
Luna: are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out parked their car in my spot.
Luna: are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out parked their car in my spot.
Kevin: Whose 1 car is in my parking space? I want it removed immediately!
Luna: What 2 are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out who 3 parked their car in my spot.
Luna: What 2 are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out who 3 parked their car in my spot.
1 Whose: 'Whose?' is used to ask 'to whom' the car belongs, or to ask about the owner of the car. We use 'whose' to ask questions about possession.
1 Whom: 'Whom' is a formal term, not frequently used in today's English. We cannot use 'whom' to ask about possession, the term is used to ask a question about an unknown person. Generally 'whom' is used as the object in a sentence (Whom did you kill? To whom did you give your rose? or Whom will you give your prize?). 'Who' is generally used as the subject in a sentence (Who did this to you?) or less frequently as the predicate noun of a sentence (He is the one who did this to me).
1 What: 'What?' asks a general question about a subject or topic. The term cannot be used to ask about possession.
1 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask questions about identity or people. The term cannot be used to ask a question about possession. We might ask 'who bought that new car?', but we must ask 'whose car is that?'.
2 What: 'What?' is used to asked general questions. Here Luna wants to know what Kevin is talking about, and probably the reason for his initial question.
2 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask about identity. Because Kevin isn't talking about anyone specifically, it doesn't make sense to use it here.
2 Why: 'Why?' is used to ask about cause or reason. The question 'why are talk about?' is grammatically incorrect.
2 Which: 'Which?' is used to ask questions with a limited number of possible answers. We often use it to ask about choice or preference: Which of the two candidates to you support?
3 who: In this sentence, who acts as a relative pronoun, referring to the person who has parked in Kevin's spot. As a relative pronoun, 'who' replaces people.
3 whose: 'Whose', as a relative term as well as an interrogative term, always refers to possession. Kevin's sentence refers to identity, for which 'who' is used.
3 what: As a relative pronoun, 'what' replaces objects, but never people. Kevin is referring to the person who parked in his spot, not an object.
3 where: As a relative pronoun, 'where' replaces locations, but never people. Kevin is referring to the person who parked in his spot, the spot itself.
Exercice 2
Susie: I don't care opinion it is. Even if it were the president's opinion, I'd still disagree!
Bob: is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know I even bother talking to you anymore.
Bob: is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know I even bother talking to you anymore.
Susie: I don't care whose 1 opinion it is. Even if it were the president's opinion, I'd still disagree!
Bob: Who 2 is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know why 3 I even bother talking to you anymore.
Bob: Who 2 is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know why 3 I even bother talking to you anymore.
1 whose: 'Whose' is used to describe 'to whom' the opinion belongs. In this sentence, 'whose' acts as a relative adjective and refers to any person who expresses a certain opinion.
1 whom: 'Whom' is a formal term, not frequently used in today's English. Both as a relative term and an interrogative one, 'whom' cannot be used to refer to or ask about possession. If Susie were referring to a person (and not to whoever possesses an opinion), she might say 'I don't care to whom the opinion belongs'
1 who: 'Who?' is used to ask questions about identity or people. As a relative pronoun, it refers to a person or someone's identity. The term cannot be used to refer to possession.
1 which: Although grammatically correct, using 'which' here doesn't agree with the second clause of this sentence. We want to know about the possession of this opinion, and not 'which' opinion we are referring to.
2 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask about identity. Bob is inquiring about the president's identity or name.
2 Whose: 'Whose?' is used to ask questions about possession, not identity.
2 What: 'What' is used to ask questions of a general nature. It can't ask a question about a person's identity.
2 Which: 'Which?' is used to ask questions with a limited number of possible answers. For example: Which President do you prefer: Truman or Eisenhower?
3 why: In this sentence, 'why' is used as a relative term to refer to the purpose, reason or cause of Susie's conversations with Bob. Susie is questioning her decision to talk to Bob as he seems lost in the conversation.
3 what: As a relative term, 'what' refers to objects or general subjects. Example: What's done is done. 'What' can't refer to the reason for an action.
3 which: As a relative term, 'which' refers to specific subjects. Example: The report which I gave you this morning must be read by this afternoon. 'Which' can't refer to the reason for an action.
3 where: As a relative term, 'where' describes a location. Example: Meet me at the restaurant where we first met. 'Where' can't refer to the reason for an action.
Exercice 3
The building has been much more quiet Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming hours, so it was a relief he finally exited the boardroom.
The building has been much more quiet since 1 Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming for 2 hours, so it was a relief when 3 he finally exited the boardroom.
1 since: 'Since' is the best choice here because it indicates 'when' or 'at what moment' the building became more quiet. As a preposition of time, 'since' is often followed by a precise date, or an action which corresponds to a precise moment in time.
1 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' is usually used to describe the duration of an action. In this case, it does not fit the construction because it cannot tell us when an action began, or its starting point.
1 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
1 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
2 for: The preposition 'for' can be used to indicate the duration of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'for' around five years. In this sentence, 'for' tells us 'how long' Harold has been yelling: hours. Note that 'for' is frequently used with a verb in the present perfect tense.
2 since: This is grammatically incorrect. We use the preposition 'since' to indicate the starting point of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'since' 2002, or 'since last year, I have gained 15 pounds'. 'Since' is often directly followed by a precise date or moment in time. Example: Since 1942, since January, since last week.
2 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe duration of an action.
2 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
3 when: We use the relative pronoun 'when' to refer to periods or moments of time. 'When' describes 'the moment that Harold left the building'.
3 where: In English, 'where' is never used in the relative sense to refer to a period of time. 'Where' is used to refer to location: Meet me at the place WHERE I first met you.
3 what: 'What' is used to replace general topics and subjects. We cannot use it here to refer to a moment in time.
Exercice 4
Bruno has been in a bad mood he arrived at work this morning. it's so rare that he acts this way, I don't think we should complain. Maybe we should buy him some flowers or that Napoleon doll he always talks about.
Bruno has been in a bad mood since 1 he arrived at work this morning. Since 2 it's so rare that he acts this way, I don't think we should complain. Maybe we should buy him some flowers or that Napoleon doll which 3 he always talks about.
1 since: 'Since' is the best choice here, because it indicates for how long Bruno has been in a bad mood. We use 'since' to say when the time period began, for example: I have been selling flowers since January last year.
1 when: We cannot use 'when' here, because it is preceded by 'has been' which introduces a time from the past to the present. We could say: 'Bruno WAS in a bad mood WHEN he showed up this morning', however this does not tell us if Bruno is still in a bad mood.
2 Since: This is the best choice here. 'Since' is often used in the same sense as 'because' to express reason, for example 'Since we have plenty of time, let's go and have a coffee'. Note that 'as' could also be used in this construction ('As I was hungry, I decided to have some lunch').
2 Therefore: 'Therefore' does not make any sense in this construction. It could be used in this alternative version, however the meaning is slightly different: It is so rare that Bruno acts this way, therefore I don't think we should complain.
3 which: We must use a relative pronoun here to refer to the Napoleon doll. 'Which' is the best choice in this case.
3 since: We cannot use 'since' here because we are not expressing 'why' or 'since when' Bruno liked Napoleon.
Exercice 5
Fill in the blanks using the words from the list below. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once, or not at all.
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
Fill in the blanks using the words from the list below. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once, or not at all.
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning when 1 he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, who 2 had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, where 3 he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, which 4 he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning when 1 he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, who 2 had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, where 3 he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, which 4 he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
1 when: This is the best choice here. We use the relative pronoun 'when' to refer to periods or moments of time. 'When' describes 'the moment when Horatio discovered a tricycle on the street.
2 who: This is the best choice here. We use the relative pronoun 'who' to refer to human subjects. 'Who' refers to 'Horatio' here.
3 where: 'Where' is the correct choice here. It refers to the location at which Horatio met Bruno (the office).
4 which: 'Which' is the correct choice here. It refers to the motorcycle which Bruno keeps in his closet.
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