Which one is correct: 'Que vous dites là est excessif' or 'Vous dites là est excessif' or 'Ce que vous dites là est excessif?'

Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Which one is correct: 'Que vous dites là est excessif' or 'Vous dites là est excessif' or 'Ce que vous dites là est excessif?'

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Joan,

The only correct one is -

'Ce que vous dîtes là est excessif!'

Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you Cécile. I wonder why it is not 'Ce qui' instead? (Ce qui vous dîtes là est excessif) as the fact that 'vous dîtes là' is a subject, and subject should use ce qui?

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The subject of the sentence is vous and the object is ce que. You can only use ce que if it is the object of the sentence; if it happens to be the subject, you use ce qui.

Furthermore, ce que/ce qui is used for inanimate objects and que/qui for persons.

Maybe an example is in order:

Ce qui se passe est intéressant. -- What happens is interesting. (Here ce qui is the subject.)
Ce que tu dises est intéressant. -- What you say is interesting. ("You" is the subject and ce que the object)

Which one is correct: 'Que vous dites là est excessif' or 'Vous dites là est excessif' or 'Ce que vous dites là est excessif?'

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...