Introduction to Relative Pronouns
Relative Pronouns and Adjectives
The two most common relative pronouns in Spanish are:
- que - who, which, that
- quien - who
Que is invariable, and either as subject or object of a verb refers to persons or things.
- el hombre que vino - the man who came
- los hombres que vimos - the men whom we saw
- la casa en que vivo - the house in which I live
- los libros de que hablo - the books of which I speak
Quien (plural quienes) agrees in number with its antecedent, and refers only to persons.
- el hombre a quien vi - the man whom I saw
- las niñas de quienes hablo - the girls of whom I speak
When que refers to persons it cannot follow a preposition.
- la casa en que vivo - the house in which I live
- la niña que vi - the child whom I saw
- la niña a quien vi - the child whom I saw
Relative pronouns are NEVER omitted in Spanish as it sometimes does in English.
- la sillas que compré - the chairs I bought
The preposition always precedes the relative pronoun.
- el señor de quien le hablé - the gentleman I spoke to you about.
The relative pronouns el cual (la cual, los cuales, las cuales, lo cual), el que (la que, los que, las que, lo que), are also used for que, quien, in cases of ambiguity, when the antecedent is lengthy or widely separated from the relative, or when it is necessary to distinguish between nouns differing in gender or number.
I desire a womanservant and a manservant, and a secretary in whom I can trust.
They told us a few interesting and humorous stories with which we were much amused.
He always gave presents to the children, with which they amused themselves much.
The neuter forms lo que, lo cual refer to a whole clause, idea, or phrase:
He gave me a book, a thing which pleased me.
Quien may often include its antecedent:
She was the one who gave her the box.
He who went yesterday did it.
Cuyo (-a, -os, -as) is a relative adjective (possessive) and refers to either persons or things. It agrees in gender and number with the person or thing possessed.
the man whose courage is well known
I lived in a village, the name of which I have forgotten.
Cuanto (-a, -os, -as) may also be used as a relative. As a relative it may include its antecedent and means 'as much as,' ' as many as,' ' all that':
He gave me all he had.
He spoke to as many persons as he could.
Relative Pronouns
Popular Phrase: shapes in spanish | Spanish Prepositions | Conjugated Verb: delinquir - to commit a crime [ click for full conjugation ]