chatnappers

[pale vigil]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[bitter remnant]

Duquel and its counterparts are used following expressions that have "de" — here, it's "au sein de"
Dont roughly happens when de would be hanging off at the end of the clause (La manière dont j'ai parlé) (parler de)

Duquel is closer to a contraction, while dont is typically to avoid a trailing "de" at the end of the clause (which isn't allowed)

[acoustic veldt]

Okay, so use dont if it's just a solitary 'de' and use duquel and its counterparts if it's an adverb like près de, en face de, etc. ?

[round ivy]

Yeah

L’arbre dont tu parles est grand
(parler de qqch => not a complex preposition)

L’arbre à côté duquel je suis assis est grand
(à côté de qqch => complex preposition)