Log inSign up

Les chercheurs demandent ce qui transforme les cellules.

Les chercheurs demandent ce qui transforme les cellules.
The researchers ask what transforms the cells.
From Lesson 180:Reported questions with what (il demande ce qui, ce que)·French

Questions & Answers about Les chercheurs demandent ce qui transforme les cellules.

Why do we use ce qui here instead of ce que?
In indirect questions, "what" translates to ce qui when it is the subject of the action (the thing doing the verb) and ce que when it is the object (the thing receiving the verb). Here, "what" is the thing doing the transforming, so it is the subject, making ce qui the correct choice.
Why is the verb transforme singular if there are multiple cells and multiple researchers?
The verb transforme belongs to the second part of the sentence, and its subject is ce qui (what). In French, ce qui is always treated as a third-person singular subject, just like il or elle, so it takes the singular ending -e.
Does demandent mean they are demanding something forcefully?
No, demander is a classic false friend! It simply means "to ask" or "to request". If the researchers were actually demanding something forcefully, you would use a stronger verb like exiger.
Since the -ent ending on demandent is silent, how can you tell this is plural when listening?
You have to rely entirely on the context and the subject! The verb demandent sounds exactly like the singular demande. When listening, the plural article les in les chercheurs is your only clue that the subject and verb are plural.

Learn Les chercheurs demandent ce qui transforme les cellules and more in French

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning French →