Compound relative pronouns

Kurz erklärt

The compound relative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels and lesquelles refer back to a specific noun and are commonly used after a preposition. They agree in gender and number with that noun. When combined with à or de, some forms contract: auquel, auxquels, auxquelles and duquel, desquels, desquelles.

Bildung

preposition + lequel/laquelle/lesquels/lesquelles; à + lequel/lesquels/lesquelles → auquel/auxquels/auxquelles; de + lequel/lesquels/lesquelles → duquel/desquels/desquelles

Verwendung

• Use these pronouns after prepositions when the antecedent is a thing or a clearly identified noun.
• Choose the form that matches the antecedent, not a noun appearing later in the relative clause.
• After compound prepositions ending in de, such as près de or à côté de, use duquel, de laquelle, desquels or desquelles.
• For people, preposition + qui is often more natural, although forms of lequel can be used when greater precision is helpful.

Beispiele

• Voilà le projet auquel je participe. — Here is the project I am taking part in.
• La chaise sur laquelle j’ai posé mon sac est libre. — The chair on which I put my bag is available.
• Nous avons visité les villages près desquels passe la rivière. — We visited the villages near which the river runs.
• Ce sont les raisons pour lesquelles elle a refusé. — Those are the reasons why she refused.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Voilà le projet à lequel je participe.

✅ Voilà le projet auquel je participe.

Unlike English ‘to which’, French contracts à + lequel to auquel. The plural forms contract in the same way: auxquels and auxquelles.

Merke

Match the pronoun to its antecedent. Remember the required contractions with à and de.