Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns are important in PSC Written Expression, where they help link ideas clearly and correctly, and they can also affect Reading Comprehension, where an incorrect answer may come from misunderstanding how a pronoun refers back to a word or phrase earlier in the sentence. Relative pronouns are tested in sentences where a noun is followed by qui, que, dont, duquel, or similar forms. These questions can be tricky because the candidate must identify what the pronoun refers to and how it functions in the sentence.
Why this matters on the PSC test
Relative pronouns connect ideas and avoid repetition. On the PSC test, they often appear in formal administrative sentences where the antecedent is not immediately obvious. A wrong relative pronoun can make the sentence grammatically incorrect or unclear.
Core rule
A relative pronoun refers back to an antecedent and must fit the grammatical role it plays in the clause.
Before choosing the correct form, identify two things: the antecedent and the function of the pronoun inside the relative clause.
qui travaillent
au cours duquel
à partir desquels
qui conviennent
Common PSC traps
- Wrong antecedent: the pronoun may seem to refer to the nearest noun, but the real antecedent is elsewhere in the sentence.
- Agreement confusion after qui: when qui is the subject of a verb, the verb agrees with the antecedent.
- Prepositional forms: after a preposition, French often uses forms such as duquel, desquels, auquel, or auxquels.
- Plural antecedents: the correct form must reflect number. Example: à partir desquels.
- Long formal sentences: the correct pronoun may be hidden inside a heavy administrative sentence, so slow down and identify the structure clearly.
PSC-style examples
les pêcheurs et les agents qui travaillent ensemble
le voyage au cours duquel l’incident s’est produit
les bureaux à partir desquels les rapports sont transmis
les politiques et les priorités qui conviennent
les documents dont nous avons besoin
Mini practice
a) qui
b) que
a) lequel
b) duquel
a) desquels
b) duquel
1. a) qui
2. b) duquel
3. a) desquels