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: