Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns such as que, quien, cual (that, who, which) replace people, animals and things to avoid repetition.
Le compré un regalo a Teo. Voy a mostrarte el regalo
→ Voy a mostrarte el regalo que le compré a Teo (que = el regalo).
I bought Teo a present. I'm going to show you the present
→ I'm going to show you the present that I bought Teo (that = the present).
To replace people only:
- Quien / Quienes (who, whom)
Betty es quien te llamó (quien = Betty).
Betty is the one who called you (who = Betty).
Ellos son quienes vinieron a la reunión (quienes = ellos).
They are the ones who came to the meeting (who = they).
To replace people, animals or things:
- Que (that)
El libro que me regalaste es muy aburrido (que = el libro).
The book that you gave me is very boring (that = the book).
- Definite article + que (that)
Ellas son mis primas, las que me caen mal (las que = mis primas)
They are my cousins, the ones that I dislike (the ones that = my cousins).
- Definite article + cual/cuales (which)
Este es el libro del cual te hablé (el cual = el libro).
This is the book I spoke to you about – literally “…of which I spoke” (which = the book).
Te contaré las razones por las cuales vine a Madrid (las cuales = las razones).
I will tell you the reasons why I came to Madrid – literally “…for which I came to Madrid” (which = the reasons).
Notes:
- The definite article that goes before que/cual has the same gender and number as the noun it replaces.
Ella es la chica de la que / de la cual te hablé.
She is the girl I spoke to you about – literally “…of whom/which I spoke to you”.
- El/La que and el/la cual are generally interchangeable, but cual is more formal.
La casa en la que /la cual vivo queda en las afueras de la ciudad.
The house in which I live is on the outskirts of the city.
- We use the same relative pronouns, but with an accent, in questions and exclamations.
¿Quién es esa señora?
Who is that lady?
¡Qué linda casa!
What a beautiful house!
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