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celui / celle vs lequel / laquelle — identify or ask which one?: how to choose
Choose the job before the form. Lequel / laquelle can ask “which one?”; celui / celle identifies the answer. In a relative clause, a lequel form often follows a preposition. The families can combine: celui sur lequel means “the one on which”, not two competing pronouns.
The decision: Ask which item? → Lequel / laquelle ? Identify it? → celui / celle + de, relative clause or -ci/-là. Keep a preposition in a relative clause? → preposition + the agreeing lequel form.
The choices at a glance
| Choose | When to use it | Pattern and example |
|---|---|---|
| Pronoms démonstratifs : celui, celle, ceux, celles | <p><b>Identify the selected item.</b> Celle replaces one feminine valise; the relative clause tells us which one. You can also identify it with de + noun phrase (celle de ma collègue) or point to it (celle-ci).</p> | celui / celle / ceux / celles + identificationVous comparez deux valises. « Laquelle voulez-vous ? — Celle qui ferme le mieux. »You compare two suitcases. “Which one do you want? — The one that closes best.” |
| lequel / laquelle / lesquels / lesquelles | <p><b>Question:</b> lequel asks which member of a known group is chosen; it agrees with classeur.</p><p><b>Relative clause:</b> dans lequel links information to the named classeur and preserves the preposition dans. For a person, preposition + qui is often natural: la collègue avec qui je travaille.</p> | Question: lequel ? / Relative: préposition + lequel« Parmi ces classeurs, lequel gardons-nous ? » Voici le classeur dans lequel nous rangeons les reçus.“Among these folders, which one do we keep?” Here is the folder in which we store the receipts. |
Compare the meaning
Deux inscriptions restent disponibles : laquelle convient à ton horaire ?
Je prends celle qui commence après mon travail.
Voici le bureau sur lequel nous posons le matériel.
Parmi ces bureaux, je prends celui sur lequel nous pouvons poser tout le matériel.
Practise this decision in FKE
The interactive comparison includes decision practice and links to the related FKE knowledge tools.
Open celui / celle vs lequel / laquelle — identify or ask which one? in FKE