As a copy editor, it is important to have a strong grasp on grammar rules, particularly in French. One rule that often trips up even the most experienced writers is the agreement between « qui » and « que ». Understanding this rule can greatly improve the clarity and coherence of your writing, especially when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). In this article, we will review the difference between « qui » and « que » and explain how to properly use them in French sentences.
First, let`s define the two words. « Qui » and « que » are both relative pronouns that introduce subordinate clauses in a sentence. « Qui » refers to a person or thing that is the subject of the subordinate clause, while « que » refers to the direct object of the subordinate clause.
Here is an example to illustrate the difference:
- Le chat qui dort sur le coussin est mignon. (The cat that is sleeping on the cushion is cute.)
- Le chat que j`ai vu hier est gris. (The cat that I saw yesterday is gray.)
In the first sentence, « qui » refers to the cat as the subject of the subordinate clause (« qui dort sur le coussin » – that is sleeping on the cushion). In the second sentence, « que » refers to the cat as the direct object of the subordinate clause (« que j`ai vu hier » – that I saw yesterday).
Now, let`s look at the agreement between « qui » and « que » and the word that follows them. When either pronoun is followed by a verb, the verb must agree in number and gender with the subject of the subordinate clause. However, when the pronoun is followed by a noun, the noun must agree in number and gender with the pronoun.
Here are some examples to illustrate the agreement:
- Les chiens qui aboient sont bruyants. (The dogs that are barking are noisy.) In this case, « qui » refers to the plural subject « les chiens », so the verb « aboient » also takes the plural form.
- Les pâtisseries que j`ai achetées sont délicieuses. (The pastries that I bought are delicious.) In this case, « que » refers to the plural direct object « les pâtisseries », so the past participle « achetées » also takes the plural form.
It is also important to note that « qui » and « que » can be used in various tenses, such as the present, past, future, and conditional. In each case, the verb or noun that follows the pronoun must agree in number and gender.
In conclusion, mastering the agreement between « qui » and « que » requires an understanding of French grammar and attention to detail. As a copy editor working with SEO, ensuring grammatical accuracy is essential to improving the search engine ranking of your content. By following the rules outlined in this article, you can confidently use « qui » and « que » in your writing and produce high-quality content that is both grammatically correct and optimized for search engines.