French interrogative pronouns - qui, que, lequel

Interrogative pronouns (French: les pronoms interrogatifs) are primarily used for asking questions. In French we have to differ between the following pronouns: qui, que and lequel.

Usage of the interrogative pronouns - qui, que, quoi

If you want to know which indefinite pronoun you have to use, you must know whether the pronoun is:

• a subject
• a direct object
• the object of a preposition

and if it refers to:

• a person
• a thing

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Chart of interrogative pronouns

Examples:

• Qui est ce joueur? (Who is that player?)​
• Qu'est-ce qui se passe? (What's happening?)
• Qui préfères-tu? (Whom do you prefer?)
• Qu'est ce que tu fais? Que fais-tu? (What are you doing?)
• Pour qui es-tu? (Who are you for? For whom are you?)

Usage of the interrogative pronoun - lequel

The interrogative pronoun lequel is especially used

• in exceptional cases
• when the speaker has not a big variety of options

It can be translated with the English word which.

As lequel is a variable, it has to match with the noun that it replaces. Therefore you have to use the singular forms lequel (masculine) and laquelle (feminine) or the plural forms lesquels (masculine) and lesquelles (feminine).  

Also, this pronoun can be used after prepositions, but you have to note that the pronoun and preposition are going to be combined into one word (as you can see in the chart below).

Chart of interrogative pronouns with à + de

Examples:

• Lequel de ces pulls préfères-tu? (Which of these pullovers do you prefer?)
• Laquelle de ces serveuses est la plus serviable? (Which one of these waitresses is the most helpful?)
• Les concerts auxquels j’ai assisté étaient sensationnels. (The concerts (that) I attended were sensational.)
• Nous pouvon acheter deux CD récents. Lesquels? (We have to buy two new CDs. Which ones?)
• Il y a deux bons films à la télé. Lequel des deux veux-tu-voir? (There are two good film on television. Which of these two would you like to watch?)