Ex.: Où est le livre DONT j'ai besoin?
ou... Ça c'est la fille DONT je t'ai parlé.

The original sentences would have been:

J'ai besoin d'un livre.
Je t'ai parlé de cette fille.

I know fuck all about grammar, so I can't really explain it in grammar terms.

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la rage au coeur

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Quote: from Ndskewll at 9:38 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Umm. What do you need help with?

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i need to know when to use the pronom relatif "dont". i know it replaces "de" but... that doesn't help me any. i feel like i could just use "qui" or "que" anywhere for these exercises i'm working on.

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Because it relies on what the preposition is that follows the verb. If you have a verb like parler de or something else that takes de, it will almost always (and should be) dont. Like in the example I gave above, because avoir besoin takes de, when you say "The money that I need," you will need to use 'dont' because of de.

I know that sounds like a crappy explanation, but that's all there really is. You just have to know if the preposition is de or something else.

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"When, I wonder, and where will there be relief?"
But he knew the answer: never and nowhere.

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Quote: from charolastra at 9:39 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Quote: from Ndskewll at 9:38 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Umm. What do you need help with?

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 i need to know when to use the pronom relatif "dont". i know it replaces "de" but... that doesn't help me any. i feel like i could just use "qui" or "que" anywhere for these exercises i'm working on.

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Because it relies on what the preposition is that follows the verb. If you have a verb like parler de or something else that takes de, it will almost always (and should be) dont. Like in the example I gave above, because avoir besoin takes de, when you say "The money that I need," you will need to use 'dont' because of de.

I know that sounds like a crappy explanation, but that's all there really is. You just have to know if the preposition is de or something else.

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actually this (and your last post) just helped me a lot. i think i got the hang of this now. merci beaucoup !

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y'all nukhuhs that be aight wit dat bullshiiit, just hit us up mang

Pour example:
Le garcon dont....
"The boy whose..."

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Is god willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god? -Epicurus

Here's another website I found quick, with some more examples and some more explanation.

http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/fren/Language_tools/grammar/relative_pronouns/ And another. Just click on the link that has "de" in it.

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"When, I wonder, and where will there be relief?"
But he knew the answer: never and nowhere.

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Quote: from Lulu Nobody at 9:44 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Quote: from charolastra at 9:39 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Quote: from Ndskewll at 9:38 pm on Nov. 20, 2008

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Umm. What do you need help with?

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  i need to know when to use the pronom relatif "dont". i know it replaces "de" but... that doesn't help me any. i feel like i could just use "qui" or "que" anywhere for these exercises i'm working on.

---

 

 Because it relies on what the preposition is that follows the verb. If you have a verb like parler de or something else that takes de, it will almost always (and should be) dont. Like in the example I gave above, because avoir besoin takes de, when you say "The money that I need," you will need to use 'dont' because of de.  

 I know that sounds like a crappy explanation, but that's all there really is. You just have to know if the preposition is de or something else.

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actually this (and your last post) just helped me a lot. i think i got the hang of this now. merci beaucoup !

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De rien :)

I still have trouble with this, and with other things in French since many grammatical structures like this rely on prepositions that go with verbs. So, pretty much, when you learn a new verb or verb phrase, remember the preposition. It'll definitely help you in the long run.

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"When, I wonder, and where will there be relief?"
But he knew the answer: never and nowhere.

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http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/grammar/relative_pronouns_i__ii.htm

Here's another website I found quick, with some more examples and some more explanation.

http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/fren/Language_tools/grammar/relative_pronouns/ And another. Just click on the link that has "de" in it.

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yes! these are great! thanks so much for all your help!!

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y'all nukhuhs that be aight wit dat bullshiiit, just hit us up mang

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Dont: "Whose / of which"

Pour example:
Le garcon dont....
"The boy whose..."

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I was gonna say, probably the simplest way to think of 'dont' is as "of which," "de lequel/laquelle."

Is "dont" gender specific? I forget.