Uses, Meanings, and Examples of Que in French

The French word que, which contracts to qu in front of a vowel or mute h, has numerous uses and meanings. This summary includes links to detailed information on each use of que. Comparative and superlative adverb Il est plus grand que moi - He is taller than I. Conjunction Je pense que tu as raison - I think that youre right. Conjunctive phrases Je lai fait parce que javais faim - I did it because I was hungry. Exclamative adverb Que tu es grand! - Youre so tall! Indefinite relative pronoun Ce que jaime, cest laventure - What I love is adventure. Indirect commands Que le bonheur vous sourie - May happiness smile upon you. Interrogative phrase Est-ce que tu es prà ªt? - Are you ready? Interrogative pronoun Que veux-tu? - What do you want? Negative adverb Je nai que 10 euros - I only have ten euros. Relative pronoun Jai perdu le livre que tu mas achetà © - I lost the book that you bought me. Que the Conjunction When the French word  que  is used as a conjunction, it is equivalent to that:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je pense quil a raison  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think (that) he is right  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nous espà ©rons que tu seras là  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We hope (that) youll be there  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cest dommage quil ne soit pas prà ªt  Ã‚  Ã‚  Its too bad (that) hes not ready Note that that is optional in English, but  que  cannot be omitted. With verbs of wanting followed by  que, the French structure is the same as the above, but the English translation uses an infinitive:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il veut quelle nous aide  Ã‚  Ã‚  He wants her to help us  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jaimerais que tu sois là  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I would like (for) you to be there Que  can be used to repeat a previously-stated  conjunction  (like  comme,  quand, or  si) or  conjunctive phrase:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Comme tu es là   et que ton frà ¨re ne lest pas†¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since youre here and (since) your brother isnt†¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je lui ai tà ©là ©phonà © quand jà ©tais rentrà © et que javais fait mes devoirs  Ã‚  Ã‚  I called him when I got home and (when) Id done my homework  Ã‚  Ã‚  Si jai de largent et que mes parents sont daccord, jirai en France lannà ©e prochaine  Ã‚  Ã‚  If I have money and (if) my parents agree, I will go to France next year  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pour que tu comprennes la situation et que tu sois à   laise†¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So that you understand the situation and (so that) you feel comfortable†¦Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Que  can begin a clause and be followed by the subjunctive, with various meanings:​ Que   whether:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Tu le feras, que tu le veuilles ou non  Ã‚  Ã‚  Youll do it whether you want to or not  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que tu viennes ou que tu ne viennes pas, à §a mest à ©gal  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whether you come or not, I dont care Que   so that:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Fais tes devoirs, quon puisse sortir  Ã‚  Ã‚  Do your homework so that we can go out  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tà ©là ©phone-lui, quil sache oà ¹ nous rejoindre  Ã‚  Ã‚  Call him, so that he knows where to meet us Que   when:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Nous venions de manger quil a tà ©là ©phonà ©Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We had just eaten when he called  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je travaillais depuis seulement une heure quil y a eu un exercice dà ©vacuation  Ã‚  Ã‚  I had been working for only an hour when there was a fire drill​ Que  Ã‚  third person order:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Quil pleuve!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Let / May it rain!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quelle me laisse tranquille!  Ã‚  Ã‚  I wish she would leave me alone! Que  can be used to emphasize  oui  or  non: Que oui!  - Yes indeed! Certainly! You bet!Que non!  - No way! Certainly not! Not at all! Que  can represent something that was just said: Que tu crois!  (informal)  Thats what you think!Que je le fais tout seul? Cest absurde!(You think) I should do it all alone? Thats absurd! Que  can be used instead of  inversion  with direct speech and certain adverbs:  «Donne-le-moi!  » quil me dit (me dit-il)Give it to me! he saidPeut-à ªtre quil sera là   (Peut-à ªtre sera-t-il là  )Perhaps he will be there