Relative clauses with dont

Kurz erklärt

Use dont to connect a noun to a relative clause when the clause would normally contain de. It often corresponds to English whose, of which, or whom/that … about, but the natural English translation may not contain a preposition at all. Dont is invariable and can refer to people or things.

Bildung

noun + dont + subject + verb; the relative clause contains no additional de for the element replaced by dont

Verwendung

• Use dont with verbs and expressions followed by de, such as parler de, avoir besoin de, and être fier de.
• Use dont to express possession or association; the possessed noun still takes its normal article.
• Place dont directly after the noun it refers to.

Beispiele

• Voici l’amie dont je t’ai parlé. — Here is the friend I told you about.
• C’est le document dont j’ai besoin. — That’s the document I need.
• Nous avons rencontré une famille dont la fille habite à Lyon. — We met a family whose daughter lives in Lyon.

Typischer Fehler

❌ C’est le document que j’ai besoin.

✅ C’est le document dont j’ai besoin.

Avoir besoin is followed by de: j’ai besoin de ce document. Therefore, dont replaces de ce document in the relative clause; que cannot replace it.

Merke

Look for de in the complete sentence behind the relative clause. If dont replaces that de phrase, do not add de again.