Learn French: La commode sur laquelle elle pose la lampe est lourde. - The chest of drawers on which she puts the lamp is heavy.

La commode sur laquelle elle pose la lampe est lourde.

The chest of drawers on which she puts the lamp is heavy.

Breakdown of La commode sur laquelle elle pose la lampe est lourde.

Questions & Answers about La commode sur laquelle elle pose la lampe est lourde.

Why do we use laquelle here instead of lequel?

laquelle is the feminine singular form of the relative pronoun lequel. It has to match the noun it refers back to, which is La commode (a feminine singular noun).

Why can't I just say sur que or sur qui for 'on which'?

You can only use qui after a preposition if you are referring to a person. For a thing like a chest of drawers, you have to use a form of lequel. The word que is never used directly after a preposition.

Could I translate 'puts' using met instead of pose?

Yes, you could use met (from mettre, to put). However, poser is a great choice here because it specifically means to set down or place something on a surface, which fits perfectly with putting a lamp on a piece of furniture.

Why is there an e at the end of lourde?

The adjective lourde (heavy) describes La commode, which is feminine. Even though the adjective is separated from its noun by the whole phrase sur laquelle elle pose la lampe, it still has to match the noun it describes.