Ce qui, Ce que, Ce dont – Indefinite French Relative Pronouns
CE QUI, CE QUE and CE DONT are like the relative pronouns QUI, QUE, and DONT. They introduce dependent clauses. A dependent clause is one that has a subject and a verb, but it needs to be connected to a main clause to form a complete sentence. Relative pronouns are the words that connect a dependent clause to a main clause.
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The difference between CE QUI, CE QUE, CE DONT and QUI, QUE and DONT is that they don’t refer to a specific noun that has already been mentioned. They refer to something less specific, like an idea or a whole statement. That idea may or may not have already been stated. Think of CE as a sort of place holder for something that has not specifically been named.
CE QUI: Use it as subject of the dependent clause
👉 Le vent, c’est ce qui me dérange le plus.
👉 The wind is what bothers me the most.
👉 Ce qui me dérange, c’est quand il y a trop de vent.
👉 What bothers me the most is when there is too much wind.
CE QUE: Use it as direct object of the dependent clause
👉 Je ne comprends pas ce que tu dis.
👉 I don’t understand what you are saying.
👉Ce que nous devons faire, c’est prendre le train demain.
👉What we must do is take the train tomorrow.
CE DONT: Use it as the object of the preposition de
👉Je sais ce dont tu as besoin.
👉I know what you need (of what you have need).
👉Ce dont tu as peur, c’est le noir?
👉 What you are afraid of is the dark?
