Français III – Leçon 5B Structures -Si clauses -Relative pronouns qui, que, dont, où

Si clauses Si (If ) clauses describe a condition or event upon which another condition or event depends. Sentences with si clauses consist of a si clause and a main (or result) clause. [Si clause] [main/result clause] Si je mange beaucoup de la glace, je aurai malade. (If I eat a lot of ice cream, I will be sick.)

Si clauses can express conditions or events that are possible or likely to occur. In such instances, the si clause is in the present while the main clause uses the futur or futur proche. [Si clause in present tense] [main clause in the futur] Si le patron me renvoie, je trouverai un emploi a mi-temps. (If the boss fires me, I’ll find a part-time job.)

Contrary-to-fact situations Si clauses can speculate or hypothesis about a current event or condition. They express what would happen if an event or condition were to occur. This is called a contrary-to-fact situation. In these instances, the verb in the si clause is in the imparfait while the verb in the main clause is in the conditional. [conditional] [si clause in l’imparfait] Vous partiriez souvent en vacances si vous aviez de l’argent. (You would go on vacation often if you had money.)

Si clauses with l’imparfait Us a si clause alone with the imparfait to make a suggestion or to express a wish. Ah! S’il obtanait un meilleur emploi! (Oh! If only he got a better job!)

Relative pronouns qui, que, dont, où Relative pronouns link two phrases together into a longer, more complex sentence. The second phrase gives additional information about the first phrase. In English, relative pronouns can sometimes be omitted, but the relative pronoun in French cannot be.

Je suis allé voir le docteur dont tu m’as parle. Tu m’as parlé de ce docteur. (I went to see the doctor) (You talked to me about this doctor.) Je suis allé voir le docteur dont tu m’as parle. (I went to see the doctor that you talked to me about.) Relative pronouns who, what, which of which, of whom qui dont that, which que où where

Use qui if an element of the first phrase is the subject of the second phrase. Il a revoyé la comptable. La comptable travaillait à mi-temps. (He dismissed the accountant.) (The accountant worked part-time.) Il a renvoyé la comptable qui travaillait à mi-temps (He dismissed the accountant who was working part-time.)

Use que if an element of the first phrase is the direct object of the second. The past participle following que agrees in number and gender with the direct object [DIRECT OBJECT] [ELEMENT] David est à côté de la porte. Nicole lui ouvert la porte. (David is by the door.) (Nicole opened the door for him.) David est à côté de la porte que Nicole lui a ouverte. (David is by the door (that) Nicole opened for him.)

Use dont, meaning that or of which, to replace an element in the first phrase that is the object of the preposition de in the second phrase. [OBJECT OF PROPOSITION DE] [ELEMENT] Stéphane est pompier. Tu m’as parle de ce pompier. (Stéphane is a firefighter.) (You talked to me about this firefighter.) Stéphane est le pompier dont tu m’as parlé? Is Stéphane the firefighter (that) you talked to me about?)

(Come speak with me at that Use où, meaning where, when, or in which, if an element of the first phrase is a place or a period of time. [ELEMENT] [PERIOD OF TIME] Venez me parler à ce moment-là. Vous arrivez à ce moment –la. (Come speak with me at that moment. ) (You arrive at that moment) Venez me parler au moment où vous arrivez. (Come speak with me at the moment (that) you arrive.)