Question 1

Why do we use qui instead of que to mean 'that' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Qui is the subject relative pronoun. You use it when the word it replaces is doing the action in the next part of the sentence. Here, the mosquito is the one doing the stinging (a piqué), so we use qui. If someone else were doing the action, like 'the mosquito that I squashed', you would use que.

Question 2

Why is the verb piquer used here instead of a word for 'bite'?

Accepted Answer

In English, we usually say a mosquito bites. But in French, insects with needle-like mouths are said to prick or sting (piquer). A French mosquito doesn't bite (mordre); it stings!

Question 3

Could I just say qui piqué instead of qui a piqué?

Accepted Answer

No, because piqué is just the past participle. To make a complete past tense verb for an action that was completed in the past, you need the helper verb avoir (to have). So it must be a piqué.

Question 4

Is petit masculine because it describes frère or moustique?

Accepted Answer

It describes moustique (mosquito), which is a masculine noun. The core of the sentence is Le moustique est très petit (The mosquito is very small). The middle part, qui a piqué mon frère, just drops in to give extra information about that mosquito.

Le moustique qui a piqué mon frère est très petit.

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