What is the rule as to when Qu'est-ce qui is used rather than Que?
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Ron
Kwiziq community member
26/11/17
Chris
Kwiziq community member
26/11/17

Ron
Kwiziq community member
28/11/17

Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
10/04/18
Hi David,
If what you are asking is the difference between: Qu'est-ce-qui? and Qu'est-ce que? both meaning 'What?', then it is a question of grammar. 'What' being the subject or the object in the sentence. Have a look at the following examples:
Qu'est-ce-qui est arrivé? ( What happened?), in this sentence 'What' is the subject of the verb to happen.
Quest-ce-que tu veux? ( What do you want?), in this sentence 'What' is the object of the verb to want.
Hope this helps!
Christophe
Kwiziq community member
28/01/19
Hello Chris , brilliant French by the way , impressive ! One comment though , I find confusing to put "qu'est ce qui" and " qu'est ce que ", because your direct object(question word) in the latter is not "que " per se but "qu' "! Actually the "que" you allude to is just a part of the formula to ask a standard question in French (est-ce que), hence my confusion.
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david
Kwiziq community member
26 November 2017
5 replies
What is the rule as to when Qu'est-ce qui is used rather than Que?
I have read through the lesson twice. There are many examples given but no clear guidance as to what they are supposed to be illustrating? Please could someone clarify? Thanks very much, David
This question relates to:
French lesson "Qu'est-ce qui + [verb] = What [does]..."