French Relative Pronoun Exercises B2: dont, où, que, qui

Relative clauses are essential for building complex sentences at B2 level. The choice between qui, que, dont and où depends on the grammatical function of the antecedent. This exercise will help you master this key point of the DELF B2.

Qui, que, dont, où: which one to use?

Selection rule: "Qui" is the subject of the clause (l'homme qui parle = the man who is speaking). "Que/qu'" is the direct object (le livre que je lis = the book I am reading). "Dont" replaces "de + noun" (l'auteur dont je parle = the author I am talking about). "Où" indicates place or time (la ville où je vis = the city where I live; le jour où il est arrivé = the day he arrived).

Understanding "dont" in depth

"Dont" is the trickiest relative pronoun for English speakers: English has no single equivalent, and translates it as "whose", "of which" or "about which" depending on context. It appears with verbs built with "de": parler de, avoir besoin de, être content de, se souvenir de. Example: "C'est un livre dont j'ai besoin" (It's a book that I need).

Relative clauses in B2 written production

In the DELF B2, using complex relative clauses shows linguistic command. Avoid short, disconnected sentences — combine them: "Il m'a offert un roman, dont l'intrigue se déroule en Afrique et que j'ai lu en deux jours." This kind of construction significantly raises your score.

Practice exercises