Ce qui and ce que
*Please note: you may not see animations, interactions or images that are potentially on this page because you have not allowed Flash to run on S-cool. To do this, click here.*
Ce qui and ce que
Ce qui and ce que function in a similar way to qui and que but they mean what.
They are also used after tout and they mean which when they refer to an indefinite item - an idea rather than a specific noun.
Again you need to know which one to use where.
Ce qui is used to mean what when it is the subject of the verb.
For example: What annoys me is... (what is the subject of annoy) - Ce qui m'agace c'est...
It is used after tout, again whenit is the subject of the verb.
For example: All that glitters is not gold - Tout ce qui brille n'est pas l'or
It is also used to mean which when it refers back to an idea, rather than a specific noun and it is the subject of the clause.
For example: He left his umbrella in the train, which annoyed him - Il a laissé son parapluie dans le train, ce qui l'a énervé.
Ce que is like ce qui - it stands for what but is used when it is the object of the clause.
For example: What I like is... - Ce que j'aime c'est...
It is also used after tout, again when it is the object of the verb.
For example: Everything that I do is excellent - Tout ce que je fais est excellent
It is used to mean which when it refers back to an idea, rather than a specific noun and it is the object of the clause.
For example: He left his umbrella in the train, which he regretted later - Il a laissé son parapluie dans le train, ce qu'il a regretté plus tard.
Try this exercise, drag the correct word - ce que or ce qui - into the gap:
