solution3407

[hoary dew]

Please be patient

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[raw field]

You use « lequel » for all indirect objects (i.e. objects introduced by a preposition) except « de », in which case you use « dont », unless said preposition « de » is complex (au long de, à côté de, etc)

[grim kraken]

Oh thanks!

[raw field]

I’m assuming that you know how indirect relative pronouns work cuz if not my explanation might be too simplistic

[grim kraken]

They both means "which" right? But I'm still not familiar with the use of "de" so I'm going to hold this one off for a bit later.

[raw field]

Sort of, yes, but the preposition moves back

If you're a native English speaker or at fluent in English, that might take you aback

[grim kraken]

What do u mean "move back"m

[raw field]

In English, the preposition doesn't move in complex sentences. Say we have these two clauses:
(1) The girl is my sister [main clause]
(2) You were talking to the girl [subordinate clause]
If we go on the steps for making a complex sentence, we'll have:
'The girl you were talking to is my sister'.
Here, the indirect object in the subordinate clause disappears and we just have the preposition in its original position.

In French, the preposition would move back with the object so that the relative pronoun is after the replaced noun with said object replaced with « lequel ».
(1) La fille est ma sœur [main clause]
(2) Tu parlais à ma sœur [subordinate clause]
—> « La fille à laquelle tu parlais est ma sœur »
(lequel becomes laquelle to agree with the object « la fille » in gender and number)

English can do this as well though it's seen as old-fashioned:
(1) The girl is my sister [main clause]
(2) You were talking to the girl [subordinate clause]
—> 'The girl to whom you were talking is my sister.'

[grim kraken]

I see thanks. So French use "which, whome, whose" more than English that's why it's an important sentence structure?

Tho I'm still stuck at which verb actually use "de" so I need more practicing to do.

[raw field]

Sorta yes

though 'whose' is strictly « de »

'whose' in English shows possession (of which, of whom) so it's gonna be « de »

[grim kraken]

What do u mean by sorta. Does "lequel" or "dont" less frequently used in spoken language?

[raw field]

'The general whose army is the largest won't necessarily win the battle.'
'whose' here is basically 'of that general's'

That's why it shows up as « dont » in the French translation:
« Le général dont l'armée est la plus grande ne gagnera pas forcément la bataille. »

[grim kraken]

I see

[raw field]

Sorta because English and French relative pronouns don't translate one-to-one

Preposition + lequel and dont are used all the time