que/kə/
conjunction / pronoun · A2/B1 · Frequency 24
conjunction
Meanings
that; introduces a subordinate clause
Commonly used to introduce subordinate noun clauses, connecting the main clause and the subordinate clause.
marks ‘no sooner … than’
Used to express temporal sequence.
Examples
Je pense que cette solution est la meilleure.
I think that this solution is the best.
Il venait à peine de s'endormir que l'alarme a retenti.
He had barely fallen asleep when the alarm went off.
Une seule certitude demeure : que le projet aboutira.
Only one certainty remains: that the project will succeed.
Collocations
- que je sacheas far as I know
- juste quejust that
- c'est quethe reason is that
Common mistakes
Je suis parti que tu es arrivé.
Je suis parti quand tu es arrivé.
To express temporal relations, ‘quand’ should be used instead of ‘que’.
Related words
synonymparce quebecause
synonymlorsquewhen
- antonymmaisbut
Grammar note
As a conjunction, que can introduce a subordinate noun clause connecting it to the main clause; indicate temporal relations meaning 'when' or 'no sooner'; or link appositive noun phrases making the complement act as predicate.
conjunction
Meanings
introduces a comparison
Used in comparative constructions to introduce the object of comparison
expresses 'only', 'just', or 'but'
Used to limit or emphasize quantity or scope
Examples
Elle travaille mieux que moi.
She works better than I do.
Ce sac coûte moins cher que l'autre.
This bag costs less than the other one.
Je ne veux que deux billets.
I only want two tickets.
Collocations
- plus que jamaismore than ever
- ce n'est queit is only
- que c'est beau !how beautiful it is!
Common mistakes
plus que mieux
mieux que
In comparative structures, 'que' should be followed by the object of comparison; 'plus que mieux' is incorrect.
que seulement
seulement
‘que’ cannot be directly combined with ‘seulement’ to mean ‘only’; ‘seulement’ should be used alone.
Related words
- synonymcommelike, as
synonymseulementonly, just
- antonymaussialso, too
pronounmasculine
Meanings
what (interrogative pronoun)
For inanimates; can be object, predicative, or subject in impersonal clauses.
Examples
Que lis-tu dans ce message ?
What are you reading in this message?
Que cherchez-vous exactement ?
What exactly are you looking for?
Que reste-t-il après cette longue journée ?
What remains after this long day?
Collocations
- que je voiswhat I see
- ce que tu faiswhat you do
- savoir ce queto know what
Common mistakes
À que penses-tu ?
À quoi penses-tu ?
As an interrogative pronoun, que cannot directly follow the preposition à; quoi is required here.
Related words
Grammar note
As an inanimate interrogative pronoun, que can be used as a direct object, predicative, or subject in impersonal constructions.
pronouncommon
Meanings
The direct object relative pronoun.
Used as a relative pronoun introducing a relative clause, referring to the antecedent, functioning as the direct object in the clause.
Examples
Le livre que tu m'as prêté est passionnant.
The book that you lent me is fascinating.
Voici la recette que ma sœur prépare pour les fêtes.
Here is the recipe that my sister prepares for the holidays.
J'ai retrouvé les clés que tu avais laissées sur la table.
I found the keys that you had left on the table.
Collocations
- le livre que j'ai luthe book that I read
- je pense que tu as raisonI think that you are right
- il est certain que cela arriverait is certain that this will happen
Common mistakes
La femme que parle français est ma voisine.
La femme qui parle français est ma voisine.
The relative pronoun que is used as a direct object and cannot be the subject of the relative clause; qui is required here.
Related words
- synonymquisubject relative pronoun
- synonymdontrelative pronoun indicating possession
antonymce querelative pronoun introducing noun clauses
Grammar note
The relative pronoun que is invariable when used as a direct object; the conjunction que introduces object or subject clauses.