Difference between "qui est-ce qui" and
"qui est-ce que" and also between
"qu'est-ce qui" and "qu'est-ce que"
1) who is there - qui est-ce qui est là
2) what is there - qu'est-ce qui est là
3) whom do you see - qui est-ce que tu
vois?
4) what do you see - qu'est-ce que tu
vois?
4a) what do you want - qu'est-ce que tu
veux? Qu'est-ce que tu voudrais?
Are these correct? Thank you!
Let me try a chart here to explain:
who? whom?(persons) what?(things)
________________________________________
subject qui qu'est-ce qui
of verb qui est-ce qui
________________________________________
direct
object
of verb
qui que (qu')
qui est-ce que qu'est-ce que
(qu') (qu')
__________________________________________
direct
object
of verb qui que (qu')
qui est-ce que
(qu')
________________________________________
after a
preposi-
tion qui quoi
________________________________________
EXAMPLES:
Qui le fera?
Who will do it?
Qui est-ce qui le fera?
Who will do it?
Qu'est-ce qui est tombé?
What fell?
Qui cherchez-vous?
Whom are you looking for?
Qui est-ce que vous cherchez?
Whom are you looking for?
Que cherchez-vous?
What are you looking for?
Qu'est-ce que vous cherchez?
What are you looking for?
À qui pensez-vous?
Of whom are you thinking?
À quoi pensez-vous?
Of what are you thinking?
NOTES:
1. As an interrogative pronoun, "qui" may be used (for persons) in all 3 cases: as subject of a verb, as direct object of a verb , and after a preposition.
2. The "e" of "que" is dropped bef ore a word beginning with a vowel; the "i" of "qui" is never dropped.
3. After the direct-object f orms "qui" and "que" the wor d order is inverted; after the long forms, the word order is regular.
You had no difficulty with the sentences.
Sra (aka Mme)
Merci beaucoup!
Yes, your sentences are correct! Let's break down the differences between "qui est-ce qui" and "qui est-ce que," as well as "qu'est-ce qui" and "qu'est-ce que."
1) "Qui est-ce qui" is used when asking for the subject of the sentence, specifically when the answer to the question is a person. For example:
- Qui est-ce qui est là? (Who is there?) Here, "qui est-ce qui" refers to the subject of the sentence (the person who is there).
2) "Qu'est-ce qui" is used when asking for the subject of the sentence, but the answer is a thing or an idea. For example:
- Qu'est-ce qui est là? (What is there?) Here, "qu'est-ce qui" refers to the subject of the sentence (the thing or idea that is there).
3) "Qui est-ce que" is used when asking for the direct object of the sentence, specifically when the answer to the question is a person. For example:
- Qui est-ce que tu vois? (Whom do you see?) Here, "qui est-ce que" refers to the direct object of the sentence (the person that you see).
4) "Qu'est-ce que" is used when asking for the direct object of the sentence, but the answer is a thing or an idea. For example:
- Qu'est-ce que tu vois? (What do you see?) Here, "qu'est-ce que" refers to the direct object of the sentence (the thing or idea that you see).
4a) "Qu'est-ce que tu veux?" (What do you want?) is also correct. It follows the same pattern as the previous example, asking for the direct object of the sentence (what you want).
To summarize:
- Use "qui est-ce qui" when asking for the subject and the answer is a person.
- Use "qu'est-ce qui" when asking for the subject and the answer is a thing or an idea.
- Use "qui est-ce que" when asking for the direct object and the answer is a person.
- Use "qu'est-ce que" when asking for the direct object and the answer is a thing or an idea.
I hope this explanation helps!