What are the relative pronouns in French and how are they used?

Relative pronouns in French include "qui," "que," "dont," "où," and "lequel" (and its variations). They are used to introduce subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun in the main clause. Here's how they are used:

1- Qui:

Used to refer to people as the subject of the relative clause.

Example: L'homme qui parle (The man who is speaking).

2- Que:

Used to refer to things or people as the direct object of the relative clause.

Example: La voiture que j'ai achetée (The car that I bought).

3- Dont:

Used to refer to people or things as the object of a verb that requires "de."

Example: L'ami dont je t'ai parlé (The friend I told you about).

4- Où:

Used to refer to a place or a time.

Example: La ville où j'habite (The city where I live).

5- Lequel (and its variations: laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles):

Used to refer to people or things with more precision.

Example: Le livre avec lequel j'étudie (The book with which I study).

These relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses that provide additional information about the noun in the main clause, and they agree in gender and number with the antecedent they refer to.