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Dont vs Duquel: TEF/TCF Exam Drills and Examples

July 13, 2026

Last updated: August 3, 2026

Dont vs Duquel: TEF/TCF Exam Drills and Examples

PrepMyFrench Education Team

5 min read

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Dont vs Duquel: TEF/TCF Exam Drills and Examples

Summary: Dont and duquel are both linked to the French preposition de, but they are not interchangeable. This drill-based guide gives TEF and TCF candidates exam-style examples, correction rules, and practice questions so you can recognize the difference quickly in reading and use it correctly in writing and speaking.

The Fast Rule

Use dont when the verb or expression directly uses de.

Use after a compound preposition ending in , such as , , , or .

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duquel / de laquelle / desquels / desquelles

de

a cote de

pres de

au sujet de

a cause de

If you need the full grammar explanation first, read our guide: How to use dont vs duquel.

Exam Rule 1: Verb + de -> Dont

Examples:

parler de quelque chose -> le sujet dont je parle
avoir besoin de quelque chose -> le document dont j'ai besoin
etre fier de quelqu'un -> l'etudiant dont le professeur est fier
se souvenir de quelque chose -> l'experience dont je me souviens

TEF/TCF sentence:

La reforme dont le journaliste parle concerne le systeme de sante.

Why it works: parler de la reforme.

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Exam Rule 2: Compound Preposition + de -> Duquel Family

Examples:

a cote de la maison -> la maison a cote de laquelle j'habite
pres du bureau -> le bureau pres duquel il travaille
au sujet des resultats -> les resultats au sujet desquels nous discutons
a cause de la decision -> la decision a cause de laquelle il est parti

TEF/TCF sentence:

La politique au sujet de laquelle nous debattons reste controversee.

Why it works: au sujet de is a compound preposition.

Mini Drill: Choose Dont or Duquel

C'est le programme ___ beaucoup de candidats parlent.
Voici la salle a cote ___ l'examen aura lieu.
C'est une erreur ___ il faut se mefier.
Le formulaire au sujet ___ vous avez pose une question est obligatoire.
La candidate ___ le score a augmente a beaucoup travaille.
La raison pour laquelle? No: la raison ___ je suis parti.
Le bureau pres ___ elle habite est ferme.
Les documents ___ j'ai besoin sont dans mon sac.

Answers:

dont
de laquelle
dont
duquel
dont
pour laquelle, not dont
duquel
dont

Notice number 6. La raison pour laquelle uses pour, not de, so neither dont nor duquel is the natural answer.

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Writing Upgrade Examples

Basic:

Je parle d'un probleme. Ce probleme est important.

Better:

Le probleme dont je parle est important.

Advanced:

Le probleme dont je parle touche directement les nouveaux arrivants qui cherchent a s'integrer au marche du travail canadien.

Basic:

Il y a un centre. J'habite pres de ce centre.

Better:

Le centre pres duquel j'habite propose des cours de francais.

Advanced:

Le centre pres duquel j'habite propose des cours de francais adaptes aux adultes qui preparent le TEF Canada.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using duquel after parler de

Wrong: Le sujet duquel je parle est important.

Better: Le sujet dont je parle est important.

Mistake 2: Using dont after a cote de

Wrong: La maison dont j'habite a cote est ancienne.

Better: La maison a cote de laquelle j'habite est ancienne.

Mistake 3: Forgetting agreement

Wrong: La loi au sujet duquel nous discutons...

Better: La loi au sujet de laquelle nous discutons...

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How to Use This in TEF/TCF

In reading, dont and duquel often appear in long sentences where the exam tests relationship logic. Slow down and find the original preposition.

In writing, use one or two relative pronouns to show sentence control. Do not force five of them into one paragraph.

In speaking, dont is easier to use naturally than duquel. A good spoken sentence is:

C'est un sujet dont on parle souvent dans les medias.

That sentence is clear, useful, and exam-safe.

Next Step

PrepMyFrench grammar practice helps you isolate these errors before they cost points in writing or speaking.

Practice relative pronouns for TEF/TCF ->

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