1.1.7.5 Interrogative and Exclamative Pronouns, in L'Huillier, Advanced French Grammar

presentation of L'Huillier's work, by Corry Shores

[Site Topic Directory]

[Subsection headings are my own]

Monique L'Huillier

Advanced French Grammar

1. Framework

1.1 Parts of Speech

1.1.7 Pronouns

1.1.7.5 Interrogative and Exclamative Pronouns

 

Interrogative pronouns are formed similarly to the relative pronouns. They may be nominal or representative.

 

 

(i) Nominal Interrogative Pronouns

 

 

We use nominal interrogative pronouns to ask about some element’s identity or qualities:

qui? que? qui est-ce qui ? qui est-ce que ? qu’est-ce qui ? qu’est-ce que ?

Ex,

Qui est là? Qu’est-ce que vous voulez?

Who’s there? What do you want?

 

 

(ii) Representative Interrogative Pronouns

 

 

We use representative interrogative pronouns to ask about previously mentioned things: lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles

Ex,

De ces deux voitures, laquelle préférez-vous?

Of these two cars, which one do you prefer?

 

 

Note we also use representative interrogative pronouns as exclamative pronouns.

Ex,

Je n’ai qu’un chat mais lequel!

I’ve only got one cat, but what a cat!

L'Huillier, Monique. Advanced French Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

More information and limited preview available at:

http://books.google.be/books?id=QwijBEaBqtwC&dq=Advanced+French+Grammar+L'Huillier,&hl=en&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0