Ce à quoi - relative clause?

Shoji M.C1Kwiziq community member

Ce à quoi - relative clause?

In the explanation of this lesson page, there is a N/B: 

ATTENTION: you cannot use preposition + quoi, either for living or non-living things. Only the options above are correct in French. 

However, I have found a sentence «C'est ce à quoi je pensais» - is this not an example of 'preposition + quoi' ?

Asked 1 year ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Shoji,

Unfortunately, we haven't published a lesson on this particular point: ce + préposition + quoi

In "C'est ce à quoi je pensais", it's not the case of "preposition + quoi" but "ce + preposition + quoi" where "ce" is "un antécédent"- something mentioned previously

This partner's link might be worth taking a look at: Ce dont and quoi – Indefinite Relative Pronouns

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Shoji,

https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/a-quoi-et-dont

Only in a question situation -- see above

Bonne journée

Jim

Shoji M.C1Kwiziq community member

Thank you Jim.

Then, is this sentence, «C'est ce à quoi je pensais», a question?

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

That sentence may be a bit colloquial. I hope a kwiziq native can chime in here, but this is my understanding:

C'est ça à quoi je pense. -- It's this about what I'm thinking. (colloquial use)
C'est à cela que je pense. -- It's this which I'm thinking about. (more formal)
C'est celui à qui je pense. -- It's him about whom I'm thinking.

Ce à quoi - relative clause?

In the explanation of this lesson page, there is a N/B: 

ATTENTION: you cannot use preposition + quoi, either for living or non-living things. Only the options above are correct in French. 

However, I have found a sentence «C'est ce à quoi je pensais» - is this not an example of 'preposition + quoi' ?

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