French What: The 7 Essential Ways to Ask 'What' in French

Mastering the French language involves understanding the nuances of question words, particularly the various ways to say french what. This guide demystifies the complexity of 'what' in French, providing a comprehensive breakdown of the seven main forms. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate learner, this guide will help you ask questions confidently in French.

The 7 Faces of 'What': A Complete Guide to Asking Questions in French

French has seven primary forms to ask 'what': quoi, que, qu'est-ce que, ce que, qu'est-ce qui, ce qui, and ce dont. Each form serves a unique purpose and is used in specific contexts. Let's explore each one with examples and clear explanations.

1. Quoi

Quoi is the most informal way to ask 'what' in French. It is commonly used in casual conversations and is often translated as 'what' or 'stuff' in English.

Examples:

• Informal: Quoi de neuf? (What's up?)
• Informal: Quoi? (What?)

2. Que

Que is the formal equivalent of 'what' and is used in more formal or written contexts. It is often used in questions that require a specific answer.

Examples:

• Formal: Que voulez-vous dire? (What do you mean?)
• Formal: Que faites-vous? (What are you doing?)

3. Qu'est-ce que

Qu'est-ce que is a fixed expression that translates to 'what' in English. It is used to ask about objects or actions and is more formal than quoi.

Examples:

• Formal: Qu'est-ce que c'est? (What is it?)
• Formal: Qu'est-ce que vous faites? (What are you doing?)

4. Ce que

Ce que is a relative pronoun that translates to 'what' or 'that which' in English. It is used to introduce a subordinate clause and is often used in more complex sentences.

Examples:

• Complex: Je ne sais pas ce que vous voulez dire. (I don't know what you mean.)
• Complex: Ce que vous dites est vrai. (What you say is true.)

5. Qu'est-ce qui

Qu'est-ce qui is used to ask about the subject of a sentence. It is similar to qu'est-ce que, but it is used when the subject is unknown.

Examples:

• Subject: Qu'est-ce qui se passe? (What's going on?)
• Subject: Qu'est-ce qui vous arrive? (What's wrong with you?)

6. Ce qui

Ce qui is a relative pronoun that translates to 'what' or 'that which' in English. It is used to introduce a subordinate clause and is often used in more complex sentences.

Examples:

• Complex: Ce qui est important, c'est de comprendre. (What is important is to understand.)
• Complex: Ce qui vous arrive est grave. (What is happening to you is serious.)

7. Ce dont

Ce dont is a relative pronoun that translates to 'what' or 'of which' in English. It is used to ask about the object of a preposition and is often used in more complex sentences.

Examples:

• Complex: Je ne sais pas ce dont vous parlez. (I don't know what you are talking about.)
• Complex: Ce dont vous avez besoin est de l'aide. (What you need is help.)

Choosing the Right 'What': Context Matters in French Grammar

Understanding when to use each form of 'what' in French requires a grasp of context and grammatical function. Here's a comparative table to help you choose the right form:

Form	Grammatical Function	Context	Example
Quoi	Informal object	Casual conversations	Quoi de neuf?
Que	Formal object	Formal or written contexts	Que voulez-vous dire?
Qu'est-ce que	Formal object	Formal questions	Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Ce que	Relative pronoun	Complex sentences	Je ne sais pas ce que vous voulez dire.
Qu'est-ce qui	Subject question	Unknown subject	Qu'est-ce qui se passe?
Ce qui	Relative pronoun	Complex sentences	Ce qui est important, c'est de comprendre.
Ce dont	Relative pronoun	Complex sentences	Je ne sais pas ce dont vous parlez.

Mini Drill: Practice Makes Perfect

To solidify your understanding, try this mini drill. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of 'what' in French:

• _______ est-ce que vous voulez? (What do you want?)

• Je ne sais pas _______ vous parlez. (I don't know what you are talking about.)

• _______ se passe? (What's going on?)

• _______ est important, c'est de comprendre. (What is important is to understand.)

• _______ de neuf? (What's up?)

• _______ vous faites? (What are you doing?)

• _______ vous arrive est grave. (What is happening to you is serious.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing 'quoi' and 'que': Remember that quoi is informal, while que is formal.
2. Misusing 'qu'est-ce que' and 'qu'est-ce qui': Use qu'est-ce que for objects and qu'est-ce qui for subjects.
3. Overlooking context: Always consider the context and grammatical function when choosing the right form of 'what'.

Checklist for Mastering 'What' in French

• Understand the seven primary forms of 'what' in French.
• Practice using each form in different contexts.
• Complete the mini drill to reinforce your learning.
• Avoid common mistakes by paying attention to context and grammatical function.

By following this guide and practicing regularly, you'll be able to ask 'what' in French with confidence. Happy learning!