Ch 12 · Lesson 20French · Chapter 12 · Lesson 20 · Grammar primer
Dont and où: the book I need, the day I arrived
replaces + a noun ( ) and gives whose; is where, and when after a time noun ( ).
The short version
.
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If the plain sentence needs , the relative is . gives ; gives . It is also English whose: , the man whose car is red.
, .
Why?Hide
is where ( ), but after a time noun it is also when: , . Standard French does not write .
dont: replacing de
stands in for + a noun. If the plain sentence would need , the relative is .
| Built on | With dont | English |
|---|---|---|
| | the book I'm talking about |
| | the book I need |
| | the dog I'm afraid of |
| | the man whose car is red |
The last row is English whose. After , French keeps ordinary statement order: - the film whose title I forgot.
More uses of , and where it gives way to duquel, are on dont in depth.
où: place and time
is where, and also when after a time noun. English speakers miss the second use.
| Noun | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| a place | | the town where I live |
| a place | | the cafe where we eat |
| a time | | the day I arrived |
| a time | | the year we met |
, .- The day I arrived, it was raining.
French says , not , which is English word order in French clothes.
Going further: qui: the subject and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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