This French 2 lesson explains quel lequel qu’est-ce que qu’est-ce qui step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on quel lequel qu’est-ce que qu’est-ce qui and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: Quel, quelle, quels and quelles mean which or what before a noun and agree with it. Lequel, laquelle, lesquels and lesquelles replace that noun so it is not repeated. Qu’est-ce qui asks what when the answer is the subject of the verb; qu’est-ce que asks what when the answer is the object.
Level: French 2 (high school, ACTFL Novice High) · Standards: ACTFL Novice High, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational
Quel lequel qu’est-ce que qu’est-ce qui: the lesson
How do you ask which or what with quel?
Interrogative adjective
Quel stands right before a noun, or before être + noun, and agrees with that noun in gender and number. It means which or what.
| Noun is… | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine singular | quel | Quel sport préfères-tu ? — Which sport do you prefer? |
| feminine singular | quelle | Quelle chanson écoutes-tu ? — Which song are you playing? |
| masculine plural | quels | Quels amis viennent à Québec ? — Which friends are coming to Québec? |
| feminine plural | quelles | Quelles matières aimes-tu ? — Which subjects do you like? |
After a preposition the word order stays the same: À quelle heure commence le match ? — At what time does the game start?
How do you replace the noun with lequel?
Interrogative pronoun
Lequel = le + quel. It stands for a noun already mentioned and agrees with it: lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles. After à it contracts: auquel, auxquels, auxquelles, but à laquelle.
Examples
- J’ai deux billets. Lequel est pour Maya ? — I have two tickets. Which one is for Maya?
- Voici deux robes. Laquelle préfères-tu ? — Here are two dresses. Which one do you prefer?
- Ces photos sont superbes ! Lesquelles viennent de Tahiti ? — Which ones come from Tahiti?
Watch out
English uses what for everything. French chooses: What is your favorite color? is Quelle est ta couleur préférée ?, never Qu’est-ce que ta couleur…. If a noun follows or is understood, use quel.
What is the difference between qu’est-ce qui and qu’est-ce que?
Subject or object?
Both mean what. Use qu’est-ce qui when what is the subject: a verb follows at once. Use qu’est-ce que when what is the object: a subject and a verb follow.
Examples
- Qu’est-ce qui fait ce bruit ? — What is making that noise?
- Qu’est-ce que tu écoutes ? — What are you listening to?
- Qu’est-ce qu’Inès cherche ? — What is Inès looking for?
Zoé’s tip
Look at the very next word. A verb after the question phrase means qui. A person or pronoun (tu, Inès, vous) means que. Think of qui as the one who does the action.
Culture
Among friends, French speakers often say C’est quoi, ton sport préféré ? instead of Quel est ton sport préféré ?. Both are heard daily, but writing and tests expect quel.
Key points to remember
- Quel has four written forms (quel, quelle, quels, quelles) that all sound alike except for the liaison before a vowel.
- Lequel is le + quel: it stands for a noun already mentioned and changes with its gender and number.
- After the preposition à, lequel contracts: auquel, auxquels, auxquelles (but à laquelle).
- Qu’est-ce qui is followed directly by a verb; qu’est-ce que is followed by a subject, and becomes qu’est-ce qu’ before a vowel.
Which One? Asking with Quel and Lequel: frequently asked questions
Does quel always agree with the noun?
Yes. Quel is an adjective, so it takes the gender and number of its noun: quel garçon, quelle fille, quels livres, quelles photos. It also agrees when être separates it from the noun, as in Quelle est ta ville ?
When do I use quel and when lequel?
Use quel when a noun follows or is part of the question: Quel film regardes-tu ? Use lequel when the noun has already been named and you only want to point at one of them: J’ai deux films. Lequel regardes-tu ?
How do I choose between qu’est-ce qui and qu’est-ce que?
Look at the next word. If a verb follows directly, the unknown is the subject and you need qui. If a subject and a verb follow, the unknown is the object and you need que (qu’ before a vowel).
Why do I write qu’est-ce qu’ sometimes?
Que drops its e before a vowel sound, just like je becomes j’. So Qu’est-ce que Théo fait ? stays the same, but Qu’est-ce qu’Inès cherche ? needs the apostrophe. Qui never elides: qu’est-ce qui arrive ?
Is Quel heure est-il correct?
No. Heure is feminine, so the correct question is Quelle heure est-il ? For the time of an event, say À quelle heure commence le cours ?