Subjonctif après "quoi que" et "qui que"

These phrases are used to show indifference. They mean that the result stays the same. It does not matter what the thing is. It does not matter who the person is. In English, we say "whatever" or "whoever." In French, we use these two-word combos. Quoi que is for things. Qui que is for people. They act like a bridge. This bridge leads straight to the subjunctive. Why? Because the person or thing is undefined. It is a bit mysterious. The subjunctive loves mystery and uncertainty. It is the perfect mood for these expressions.

1. 1Creating these sentences is like following a recipe. You only need three main ingredients. Follow these steps every time:
2. 2Start with your trigger: Quoi que (whatever) or Qui que (whoever).
3. 3Add your subject: This is the person doing the action (like tu, il, or nous).
4. 4Use the subjunctive verb: Change your verb into its subjunctive form.
5. 5For example, if you use the verb être (to be) with tu, it becomes sois. So, you get Qui que tu sois. This means "Whoever you are." If you use faire (to do) with vous, it becomes fassiez. You get Quoi que vous fassiez. This means "Whatever you do." It is like a math formula for your mouth!

You will use these phrases in many real-life moments. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You are very hungry. You tell the waiter, "Whatever you bring, I will eat it!" That is Quoi que vous apportiez. Or imagine a job interview. You want to show you are flexible. You might say, "Whatever the task is, I can do it." That is Quoi que soit la tâche.

Here are some common scenarios:

• Ordering food: "Whatever you recommend..."
• Meeting new people: "Whoever you meet today..."
• Giving advice: "Whatever happens, stay calm."
• Travel: "Whoever you ask for directions, be polite."

It adds a touch of class to your French. It shows you know the "mood" of the language. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. When you see quoi que, the light turns "subjunctive green."

Do not use these if you are certain about the thing. If you know exactly what you are talking about, use ce que. For example, "I like what you are eating" is J'aime ce que tu manges. No subjunctive there! Also, do not use them at the end of a sentence like English "whatever." You cannot just say "Quoi que!" and walk away. That would be very confusing for a French person. They would be waiting for the rest of your sentence! Also, avoid using the normal present tense. Saying Quoi que tu fais is a big no-no. It sounds like wearing socks with sandals. It just doesn't fit.

One big mistake is the "One Word Trap." There is a word quoique (written as one word). It means "although." It is totally different! Always check if you have a space. Quoi que (two words) is our friend "whatever." Another mistake is forgetting the que. You need both words to trigger the subjunctive. Some people also use the wrong subjunctive stems. For example, they might say fassions instead of fassiez. Take your time with the verb endings. Even French kids mess this up sometimes! Just keep practicing. You will get the hang of it.

How is this different from n'importe quoi? That is a great question! N'importe quoi usually means "anything" or even "nonsense." You use it as a noun or a standalone phrase. Quoi que is a connector. It starts a whole new part of the sentence.

• Il dit n'importe quoi: He is talking nonsense.
• Quoi qu'il dise, je ne l'écoute pas: Whatever he says, I don't listen.

See the difference? One is a label, the other is a bridge. Also, compare it to tout ce que. Tout ce que tu veux means "everything that you want." It is more specific than Quoi que tu veuilles.