Question 1

Why does this sentence use qui and not que?

Accepted Answer

In French, qui is used as the subject of the action in a relative clause. Here, the ant is the one doing the eating, so it is the subject. You use que when the word it replaces is the object of the action, like if someone else was eating the ant.

Question 2

Doesn't qui normally mean who? Why is it translated as that here?

Accepted Answer

When used as a question word, qui does mean who. However, when used as a relative connecting word, qui simply replaces the subject. It can refer to people, where it translates to who, or to things and animals, where it translates to that or which.

Question 3

Why is it un peu de sucre instead of un peu du sucre?

Accepted Answer

After expressions of quantity like un peu (a little) or beaucoup (a lot), you always use a simple de or d'. The normal words for some, like du or de la, change to just de after these quantity phrases.

Question 4

Is fourmi feminine even though it doesn't end in an e?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fourmi is a feminine noun, which is why the sentence starts with la fourmi. While many feminine words end in e, there are exceptions you just have to memorize, and this insect is one of them.

La fourmi qui a mangé un peu de sucre est sur la table.

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