The compound relative pronouns (lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles)

Les pronoms relatifs composés (lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles)


Les pronoms relatifs composés sont utilisés pour relier des éléments d'une phrase. Par exemple: lequel pour un objet masculin, laquelle pour un objet féminin.

(Compound relative pronouns are used to link elements in a sentence. For example: lequel for a masculine object, laquelle for a feminine object.)

When to use lequel / laquelle / lesquels / lesquelles

Use these compound relative pronouns when you need to say “preposition + which/whom”.

  • Trigger: there is a preposition (sur, dans, avec, pour, sans, entre, à, de, etc.).
  • Meaning: “on which / in which / with which / for which / without which / between which…”.
  • Key idea: the preposition stays in front of the relative pronoun.

Choose the right form (agreement)

Lequel behaves like the + which and must agree with the noun it replaces.

Replaced noun Form to use Quick check
masculine singular (le chemin) lequel le → lequel
feminine singular (la montagne) laquelle la → laquelle
masculine plural (les itinéraires) lesquels les (m.) → lesquels
feminine plural (les chaussures) lesquelles les (f.) → lesquelles
  • Self-check: Can you say le / la / les before the noun? That tells you the form.

Word order: the preposition goes first

In French, for this structure, you do not “strand” the preposition at the end.

  • Correct: C’est le sentier sur lequel on marche dimanche.
  • Incorrect (English-like): C’est le sentier lequel on marche sur.

Think: préposition + lequel as one block.

Common prepositions you’ll use with lequel

Preposition Example (thing) Meaning
sur le chemin sur lequel on monte on which
dans la prairie dans laquelle on pique-nique in which
avec les chaussures avec lesquelles je marche with which
sans la carte sans laquelle on se perd without which
entre deux itinéraires entre lesquels il y a une rivière between which

People vs things: lequel or qui?

  • After a preposition, for things, use lequel forms.
  • After a preposition, for people, you often use qui (and in more formal French: lequel is also possible).
What you mean Natural French Avoid in this lesson
a person La collègue avec qui je travaille La collègue avec laquelle je travaille (possible, but heavier)
a thing Le logiciel avec lequel je travaille Le logiciel avec qui je travaille

Two very common alternatives (so you don’t overuse lequel)

  • de + lequel is often replaced by dont.
  • à + lequel is often replaced by auquel / à laquelle / auxquels / auxquelles (same idea, just contracted).
Meaning With lequel More common
about which / of which Les dossiers desquels on parle Les dossiers dont on parle
to which Le document à lequel tu réponds (not possible) Le document auquel tu réponds

Note: In this unit you mainly practise sur/dans/avec/sans/entre + lequel. Just remember dont and auquel exist.

Mini checklist before you answer

  1. Is there a preposition? (sur, dans, avec, sans, entre…)
  2. What noun does it replace? Identify gender + number.
  3. Pick the form: lequel / laquelle / lesquels / lesquelles.
  4. Place it correctly: preposition + pronoun together (e.g., avec lesquelles).
  1. Use lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles after a preposition.
Pronoms relatifs composés (Compound relative pronouns)Exemple (Example)
LequelC'est ce chemin dans lequel tu devras grimper pour traverser. (This is the path in which you will have to climb to get across.)
LaquelleCette montagne, sur laquelle il y a un lac, est idéale pour faire de la randonnée. (This mountain, on which there is a lake, is ideal for hiking.)
LesquelsNos amis, pour lesquels on a attendu en bas, étaient déjà en haut de la colline. (Our friends, for whom we waited at the bottom, were already at the top of the hill.)
LesquellesOù sont les chaussures avec lesquelles tu fais tes promenades ? (Where are the shoes with which you go for your walks?)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Voilà le chemin sur ______ on va monter pour arriver au lac.

Here is the path on ______ we will go up to reach the lake.

2. C'est la prairie dans ______ nous ferons un pique-nique dimanche.

It is the meadow in ______ we will have a picnic on Sunday.

3. J'ai acheté des chaussures de randonnée avec ______ je marche mieux en montagne.

I bought hiking boots with ______ I walk better in the mountains.

4. Nous avons choisi deux itinéraires, entre ______ il y a une rivière.

We chose two routes, between ______ there is a river.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence by replacing the "preposition + noun" group with a compound relative pronoun (lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles). Example: I have a chair. I work on this chair. → I have a chair on which I work.

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Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. C’est une entreprise. Je travaille pour cette entreprise depuis deux ans.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    C’est une entreprise pour laquelle je travaille depuis deux ans.
    (It’s a company for which I have been working for two years.)
  2. Voici le document. Tu dois répondre à ce document aujourd’hui.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Voici le document auquel tu dois répondre aujourd’hui.
    (Here is the document to which you must respond today.)
  3. J’ai un collègue. Je compte beaucoup sur ce collègue.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    J’ai un collègue sur lequel je compte beaucoup.
    (I have a colleague on whom I rely a lot.)
  4. Nous avons des dossiers. Nous parlons souvent de ces dossiers en réunion.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Nous avons des dossiers dont nous parlons souvent en réunion.
    (We have files that we often talk about in meetings.)

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Friday, 08/05/2026 13:17