RELATIVE PRONOUNS II
A + qui, A+laquelle, A + quoi

I  "A qui," "auquel," and "(ce) à quoi" are relative pronouns. They link a sentence's main clause to its relative (subordinate) clause by marking a noun in the main clause (the antecedent) as the object of an expression that requires the preposition "à" in the subordinate clause:

Verbs that take the preposition à + noun:
("qqn" = quelqu'un; qqch=quelque chose)

appartenir à qqn ("to belong to")
penser à qqn/qqch
réfléchir à qqn/qqch
assister à qqch ("to attend an event")
plaire à qqn
être à qqn
raconter qqch à qqn
se fier à qqn/qqch
rendre visite à qqn ("to visit a person")
faire une visite à qqn ("to visit a person")
obéir à qqn
répondre à qqn/qqch
parler à qqn
téléphoner à qqn
faire allusion à qqch ou qqn
servir à qqch ("to be used for")
s'intéresser à qqn/qqch
présenter qqn à qqn
faire appel à qqn


A. 1. "A qui" is used to link the main and relative clauses when the antecedent (in the main clause) signifies a person and when it is the object of an expression requiring the preposition "à" in the relative clause.

Examples:
a. Je ne connais pas la fille à qui tu penses.
b. Je me demande quelle est celle à qui tu penses.

2. "A qui" is also used when the antecedent is indefinite. It can imply a question:

Examples:
Je ne sais pas à qui tu penses.
Je me demande à qui tu te réfères.

B.1. "Auquel," "à laquelle," "auxquels," and "auxquelles" are used to link main and relative clauses when the antecedent (in the main clause) signifies a thing (or sometimes a person) and when it is the object of an expression requiring the preposition "à" in the relative clause.

Examples:
a. Le casino auquel je fais allusion est extraordinaire.
b. Celui auquel je fais allusion est extraordinaire.

NOTE: "auquel," etc. can also be used when the antecedent signifies a person.

2. "A quoi" is used when the antecedent is an indefinite thing or idea or an entire clause. "Ce" must be added (to make "ce à quoi) at the beginning of a sentence and after "tout,", but is sometimes also added within the sentence

Examples:
a. Elle ne savait pas à quoi il pensait en venant lui rendre visit.
b. Ce à quoi je fais allusion, c'est le manque d'emplois à plein temps.
c. Dites-moi tout ce à quoi tu penses.

II. A. "Pour qui," "dans lequel," and "(ce) sur quoi" are relative pronouns. They link a sentence's main clause to its relative (subordinate) clause by marking the antecedent -- a noun in the main clause or an entire clause -- as the object of a preposition (pour, dans, sur, etc.) in the relative clause. They follow the same rules as relative pronouns formed with the preposition "à."

1. Use "Preposition + qui" when the antecedent is a person.

Example:
Voilà l'étudiant avec qui j'ai étudié.

2. Use "Preposition + lequel" when the antecedent is a thing (or a person).

Example:
Voilà le divan sur lequel j'ai étudié.

NOTE 1: With the preposition "de," use "dont." REVIEW 1 R2 R3 R4

NOTE 2: You may replace "dont" with "duquel," etc. to make the antecedent clear.
Example:
Voilà la fille de l'homme de laquelle je vous ai parlée.

NOTE 3: You may not use "dont" with compound prepositions that include "de," such as "à côté de."
Example:
Te souviens-tu du fleuve le long duquel je me suis promené.

3. In order to say "the one (on, under, etc) which," use the demonstrative pronoun as antecedent: celui sur qui, celles sous lesquelles, etc.

4. Preposition + "quoi" is used when the antecedent is an indefinite thing or idea or an entire clause. "Ce" + prep. + "quoi" must be used at the beginning of a sentence and after "tout" ("everything/all that"), but is sometimes used within the sentence.

Examples:
J'ai réussi, sans quoi (ce sans quoi) je ne serais pas venu.
Ce sur quoi je comptais, c'était que tu nous aides.

B. Relative Pronouns whose antecedent signifies a place or time are generally replaced by "où." If the preposition of place is "de" or "par," the relative pronoun is replaced by "d'où" or "par où."

Examples:
1. la piscine où (dans laquelle) j'ai nagé.
2. la ville d'où (de laquelle) nous arrivons.
3. la rue par où je suis passé.
4. le mois où il est mort.
5. au moment où, à l'époque où, etc.

NOTE: French cannot use "quand" after expressions of time.