ce que vs ce qui

1.Ce que= "what" (when it is theobjectof the verb)

Use ce que when something receives the action.

Structure:

Examples:

• Je sais ce que tu veux.

  • I know what you want.

  • Tu veux quoi ? → ce que.

• Dis-moi ce que tu penses.

  • Tell me what you think.

• Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites.

  • I don't understand what you're saying.

Here, ce que is the direct object of the following verb.

2.Ce qui= "what" (when it is thesubjectof the verb)

Use ce qui when the thing itself performs the action.

Structure:

Examples:

• Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.

  • I don't know what is happening.

  • What is happening? → something is happening.

• Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la musique.

  • What interests me is music.

• Explique-moi ce qui est arrivé.

  • Explain what happened.

Here, ce qui is the subject of the verb.

A quick test

Ask yourself:

Does "what" do the action, or receive the action?

"What" does the action →ce qui

• What happened?

• What interests you?

• What is on the table?

→ ce qui

"What" receives the action →ce que

• You want what?

• You think what?

• You bought what?

→ ce que

Compare

• Je sais ce que tu fais.

  • I know what you're doing.

  • You are doing something → object → ce que.

• Je sais ce qui te fait rire.

  • I know what makes you laugh.

  • Something makes you laugh → subject → ce qui.

Easy memory trick

• ce qui → think "who/which" = subject (it comes before a verb with no subject in between).

  • Ce qui est important...

  • Ce qui s'est passé...

• ce que → think "what" = object (it is followed by a subject, then a verb).

  • Ce que tu veux

  • Ce que nous avons vu

Notice the pattern: