Ce qui - what (subject)

Think of ce qui as a two-part team. The ce part means "the thing." The qui part means "that/which." Together, they become the subject of your next verb. In English, we just say "what." French likes to be a bit more specific. It wants to know if the "what" is an object or a subject. Ce qui is always the boss. It is the one doing the work. For example, in "what matters," the "what" is the subject. In French, that becomes ce qui importe. It acts like a noun phrase. You can use it at the start of a sentence. You can also use it in the middle. It never changes its spelling before a vowel. Yes, you read that right! Unlike que, qui is stubborn. It keeps its i no matter what. It is like that one friend who refuses to leave the party early.

1. 1Start with your main idea or a lead-in like Je sais (I know).
2. 2Add ce to represent the thing you are talking about.
3. 3Add qui to act as the subject relative pronoun.
4. 4Follow immediately with a verb (like est, arrive, or plaît).
5. 5Finish your thought with the rest of the sentence.

Use ce qui when you are talking about something abstract. It is perfect for expressing opinions. If you are in a job interview, use it! Say ce qui me motive (what motivates me). It sounds professional and clear. Use it when you don't have a specific noun to refer to. If a cat suddenly jumps on your head, you might shout, "What is happening?" In a statement, that's ce qui arrive. It is also great for clarifying things. "What is important is the coffee." That becomes ce qui est important, c'est le café. Use it when ordering food too. "Give me what is fresh." Donnez-moi ce qui est frais. It works for feelings, events, and descriptions. It is the go-to choice for anything that doesn't have a name yet.

Don't use ce qui if you are referring to a person. If you mean "The girl who is tall," use just qui. Don't use it if the "what" is an object. If you say "what I eat," the "I" is the subject. In that case, you need ce que. Ce qui hates having another subject right next to it. It wants to be the only boss. Also, don't use it for direct questions. If you want to ask "What is falling?", use qu'est-ce qui. Ce qui is for statements, not for asking. Think of it like a polite guest. It waits for you to start the sentence before it takes over. If you see a noun right before it, you probably just need qui.

The biggest trap is the vowel monster. Many people try to write ce qu' before a vowel. Stop right there! Qui never drops its i. Writing ce qu'est is a one-way ticket to grammar jail. Another mistake is mixing it up with ce que. Remember: ce qui + verb, but ce que + person. Don't double up on subjects. Saying ce qui il est is like saying "what he he is." It makes no sense. Just say ce qui est. Finally, don't forget the ce. If you just say qui m'énerve, people will look for a person. They will think you are talking about a guy named Qui. Always keep the ce to keep it abstract and cool.

Let's compare ce qui and ce que. It is the classic battle. Ce qui is the subject. Ce que is the object.

• Ce qui me plaît = What pleases me (Subject role).
• Ce que j'aime = What I like (Object role, "I" is the subject).

Now, look at qui alone. L'homme qui chante = The man who sings. Here, qui refers to a specific man. Ce qui refers to an unknown "thing." It is like the difference between a specific person and a blurry shape in the distance. Think of ce qui as a ghost. It doesn't have a body (a noun) until the verb gives it an action. Ce que is more like a target. Someone else is aiming at it. Mastering this distinction is a major milestone. It is like finally understanding why your remote has so many buttons.