How to Teach French Relative Compound Pronouns LEQUEL, AUQUEL and DUQUEL – A French Teacher’s Guide
When I teach French relative compound pronouns, I start by connecting them to the relative pronouns students already know: qui, que, où, dont, ce qui, ce que, and ce dont.
Like these other relative pronouns, lequel, auquel, and duquel introduce dependent clauses and connect them to main clauses.
The main rule I want students to understand is this: LEQUEL and its forms replace an indirect object when that object is preceded by a preposition other than DE. The forms of auquel and duquel follow specific rules that I teach separately.
I also emphasize that lequel must agree in gender and number with the noun it replaces.
French Relative Pronouns Lequel Auquel Duquel – Foldable Reference Booklet
Looking for more resources to help you teach French relative compound pronouns? Scroll down to the section at the end of this post to see my ready-to-use resources for this topic.
Start with LEQUEL and Its Four Forms
Before introducing the different prepositions, I teach students the four basic forms of lequel.
The form depends on the gender and number of the noun being replaced.
- LEQUEL — masculine singular
- LAQUELLE — feminine singular
- LESQUELS — masculine plural
- LESQUELLES — feminine plural
I explain that the noun being replaced is called the antecedent. Students need to identify that noun so they can choose the correct form.
I then move on to examples that show how the pronoun connects two ideas.
For example:
L’agence est sur le boulevard Haussmann. Il travaille pour cette agence.
The agency is on Haussmann Boulevard. He works for this agency.
We can combine these sentences:
L’agence pour laquelle il travaille est sur le boulevard Haussmann.
The agency for which he works is on Haussmann Boulevard.
The antecedent is l’agence, which is feminine singular, so we use laquelle. The preposition pour stays before the relative pronoun.
This example helps students see how the relative compound pronoun replaces the noun that would otherwise be repeated.
Explain That LEQUEL Follows a Preposition
The next point I emphasize is that lequel and its forms are used after a preposition other than DE when replacing an indirect object.
I give students an example with avec.
Ce mannequin est célèbre. Nous allons travailler avec ce mannequin.
This model is famous. We are going to work with this model.
We can combine the sentences:
Le mannequin avec lequel nous allons travailler est célèbre.
The model with whom we are going to work is famous.
Because mannequin is masculine singular, we use lequel. The preposition avec comes directly before it.
I also point out that a simpler form with qui is common in conversation:
Le mannequin avec qui nous allons travailler est célèbre.
Both constructions are useful for students to recognize.
French Relative Compound Pronouns – Lequel – PowerPoint Jeopardy Game
Teach AUQUEL After the Preposition À
Once students understand the four forms of lequel, I introduce what happens when the preposition is à.
In this case, some forms contract.
- à + lequel = auquel
- à + lesquels = auxquels
- à + lesquelles = auxquelles
- à + laquelle = à laquelle
I make sure students notice that à laquelle does not contract.
Then I use the examples from my lesson to show how these forms work.
La robe est absolument superbe. Cette future mariée pense à cette robe.
The dress is absolutely superb. This future bride is thinking about that dress.
We combine the sentences:
La robe à laquelle cette future mariée pense est absolument superbe.
The dress that the future bride is thinking about is absolutely superb.
The antecedent la robe is feminine singular, so we use à laquelle.
Here is another example:
Le défilé de mode a eu un grand succès. Tout le monde a assisté au défilé de mode.
The fashion show was a great success. Everyone attended the fashion show.
Le défilé de mode auquel tout le monde a assisté a eu un grand succès.
The fashion show that everyone attended was a great success.
The expression is assister à, so we need the preposition à. Because défilé is masculine singular, we use auquel.
I want students to pay attention to the original verb or expression. If it requires à, they need the appropriate auquel form.
Teach DUQUEL After the Preposition DE
Next, I introduce the forms used after de.
- de + lequel = duquel
- de + lesquels = desquels
- de + lesquelles = desquelles
- de + laquelle = de laquelle
As with auquel, some forms contract, but de laquelle does not contract.
I explain that these forms are especially useful after prepositional expressions that end in de.
Here are the expressions I introduce:
- à côté de — next to
- auprès de — close to; near
- autour de — around
- au-dessus de — above
- en dessous de — beneath
- en dehors de — outside of
- en face de — opposite
- au milieu de — in the middle of
- près de — near
When students use one of these expressions to connect two ideas, they need to keep the prepositional expression and use the appropriate form of lequel.
For example:
Le mariage a eu lieu à côté d’un jardin. Le jardin a bien contribué à l’ambiance générale de l’événement.
The wedding took place next to a garden. The garden contributed to the general atmosphere of the event.
We combine the sentences:
Le jardin à côté duquel le mariage a eu lieu a bien contribué à l’ambiance générale de l’événement.
The garden next to which the wedding took place contributed to the general atmosphere of the event.
The expression is à côté de, and the antecedent jardin is masculine singular, so we use duquel.
This is a good example for students because they can see that the entire expression à côté de is retained, with the appropriate contraction.
French Relative Compound Pronouns LEQUEL – AUQUEL – DUQUEL – Grammar Activity
Explain the Important Difference Between DONT and DUQUEL
This is an important distinction in my lesson.
When DE + NOUN is replaced directly, use DONT.
For example:
Le défilé a eu un grand succès. Tu me parles de ce défilé.
The fashion show was a great success. You are talking to me about this fashion show.
We combine the sentences:
Le défilé dont tu me parles a eu un grand succès.
The fashion show that you are talking to me about was a great success.
The expression is parler de quelque chose. Since the noun follows de directly, we use dont.
However, when de is part of a longer prepositional expression, such as à côté de, we use the appropriate form of lequel.
For example:
Le jardin à côté duquel le mariage a eu lieu…
Here, duquel follows the complete expression à côté de.
I want students to remember this distinction rather than assuming that every construction containing de requires duquel.
I Share One More Helpful Tip
My lesson includes one final tip that can simplify these sentences:
When one of the ideas you need to connect already contains a preposition (that is not “à” or “de”), you need to use a form of LEQUEL.
For example, students should look carefully at the original sentence and the preposition it already contains before deciding which relative pronoun to use.
This reinforces the importance of examining the complete expression rather than choosing a pronoun based on an English translation alone.
Review the Forms Together
Before students practice, I bring the main rules together.
LEQUEL has four forms that agree with the noun being replaced:
- lequel
- laquelle
- lesquels
- lesquelles
After à, the forms are:
- auquel
- à laquelle
- auxquels
- auxquelles
After de, the forms are:
- duquel
- de laquelle
- desquels
- desquelles
I remind students that the choice depends on two things: the preposition required by the sentence and the gender and number of the noun being replaced.
I also review the distinction between dont and duquel: when de directly introduces the noun being replaced, use dont. When de belongs to a longer prepositional expression, the appropriate form of duquel may be needed.
Ready to Practice French Relative Compound Pronouns?
If you’re teaching lequel, auquel, and duquel, I have ready-to-use learning and teaching resources to help students understand the forms, agreement rules, and how these pronouns work with different prepositions.
French Relative Compound Pronouns Bundle | Lequel, Auquel, Duquel
French Relative Pronouns Lequel Auquel Duquel – Foldable Reference Booklet
French Relative Compound Pronouns LEQUEL – AUQUEL – DUQUEL – Grammar Activity
French Relative Compound Pronouns – Lequel – PowerPoint Jeopardy Game
French Relative Compound Pronouns Crossword Puzzle – LEQUEL – AUQUEL – DUQUEL
French relative pronouns DONT vs DUQUEL lesson and exercises
