"Who broke the vase that was on the table?"

Translation: Qui a cassé le vase qui était sur la table ?

[--Roody--]

If you're not really into grammar rules, just remember this simple guideline:

• Qui is followed by a verb.

• Que is followed by a noun (subject).

[Elaine485094]

My translation: "Qui a cassé le vase qu'était sur la table." Why is it 'qui' and not 'que'? Isn't le vase an object and not a person?

[GrahamNdP]

There is a common misunderstanding that « qui » means "who" - this is an oversimplification! The real difference is:

• « qui » is the subject of the next clause
• « que » is the object of the next clause

So in the above example: what was on the table? The vase! So this is the subject of that clause therefore use « qui » ! :)

[dainv85]

Thabk you for clarifying this

[MuhGoldstein]

un dinosaure , maman

[BTlwV]

Interesting that 'qui etait' is not qu'etait'. Why?

[GrahamNdP]

You never elide « qui » ; if you think about the reason for elision (i.e. to avoid vowel conflict) & then think about how the different vowel sounds are made in the mouth, you can see that it isn't difficult to easily go from the 'i' sound to the other vowel sounds! :)

Note: « qu'était » (if ever used) would always be « que + était », etc.