Last updated: 24 juin 2026
Les Pronoms Relatifs Composés : Maîtriser Lequel, Duquel et Auquel

Les Pronoms Relatifs Composés: Mastering Lequel, Duquel, and Auquel
Introduction: The "About Which" Crisis
You already know simple relative pronouns like QUI and QUE. They connect clauses easily:
- C’est le livre qui est intéressant. (It is the book that is interesting)
But what happens when you need to use a preposition like (with), (for), (of), or (to)? You cannot say . That is syntactically broken.
Part 1: The Base Pronoun (Lequel)
The base is Lequel. It must agree in absolute gender and number with the noun it replaces.
Part 2: The Contraction Rule set (De & À)
When Lequel meets the prepositions À or DE, they merge or "contract" into new forms. This is where most students get confused.
1. Contraction with À (To/At)
Part 3: The "Dont" Shortcut Rule
Always remember: if your verb uses DE and it is just a person or simple object, you can usually just use DONT instead of duquel.
- Correct:
Le sac **dont** j'ai besoin.(Better than duquel)
Conclusion: Checklist for absolute score
- Identify the preposition tied to the verb (penser à, besoin de, jouer avec).
- Choose the matching contraction block.
- Align the gender and number with the replaced noun.
Add one or two compound pronouns to your writing prompts, and examiners will recognize continuous, high-scoring C1 structural frameworks instantly!