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Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to formulate direct or indirect questions. With the exception of dont, they are identical to the relative pronouns. They can be combined with a preposition which is placed in front of the pronoun (except for que).

Some are formed of one word (single), others are made up of two words welded together:

Single interrogative pronouns:

qui...? (who, whom) [referring to persons only]
que...? (what?) [referring to things only]
quoi...? (with/for/on what?)

Qui ira avec moi en France?
(Who will be going to France with me?)

Avec qui irez-vous en voyage?
(With whom will you go on a trip?)

Single interrogative pronouns do not carry any information on gender or number.

Qui and quoi can be used on their own or with a preposition:

Qui est le meilleur élève de la classe?
(Who is the best student of the class?)

Avec quoi ferez-vous cette robe?
(With what will you make this dress?)

Compound interrogative pronouns combine the matching article and the pronoun in one word. They vary in gender and in number with the thing(s) or being(s) they refer to. They are:

	Singular (which one?)	Plural (which ones?)
Masculine	lequel	lesquels
Feminine	laquelle	lesquelles

The above pronouns combine with à and de in the same way as the similar relative pronouns to form: auquel, auxquels, auxquelles, duquel, desquels, desquelles.

Il y a deux chiens noirs à la ferme; duquel parlez-vous?
(There are two black dogs at the farm; which one are you talking about?)

Compound interrogative pronouns can be used on their own or with prepositions:

Vous avez plusieurs amis: avec lequel sortez-vous ce soir?
(You have several friends: with which one are you going out tonight?)

It is necessary to distinguish between direct questions and indirect questions, as the word order is affected. Compare:

Où sommes-nous?
(Where are we?)

Je me demande avec quoi je servirai ce poisson.
(I wonder with what I will serve this fish.)

In a direct question the verb is followed by the pronoun/inversion. In an indirect question there is no inversion.

In French, it is possible and quite common to begin a question with qui est-ce qui (when referring to persons) or qu'est-ce qui (with impersonal verbs) or qu'est-ce que (when referring to things):

Qui est-ce qui m'a pris mes clefs? (Who took my keys?)
Qu'est-ce qui se passe aujourd'hui? (What is happening today?)
Qu'est-ce que tu veux? (What do you want?)

In common language, these structures can be used with prepositions except when they replace que:

De quoi est-ce que vous parlez?
instead of
De quoi parlez-vous?
(What are you talking about?)

Où est-ce que vous allez?
instead of
Où allez-vous?
(Where are you going?)