Que – Relative Pronoun

Que - relative pronoun
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Pronombre relativo

Que is the simplest and most common Spanish relative pronoun. Depending on context, the English equivalent can be "who," "whom," "that," or "which." Although relative pronouns are sometimes optional in English, they are always required in Spanish.

Que is used to join a main clause with a dependent or relative clause. It always replaces a word from the dependent clause.

1. Que replaces the subject (person or thing).

Por ejemplo…

Busco al profesor. Él vive en Barcelona.    
Busco al profesor que vive en Barcelona.    I’m looking for the teacher who lives in Barcelona.
Voy a comprar el libro. Él tiene cien páginas.    
Voy a comprar el libro que tiene cien páginas.   I’m going to buy the book that has 100 pages.

2. Que replaces the direct object (person or thing):

Ana quiere al hombre. Yo lo vi.    
Ana quiere al hombre que yo vi.   Ana loves the man (that) I saw.
Perdí la pluma. Mi hermano la compró.    
Perdí la pluma que mi hermano compró.   I lost the pen (that) my brother bought.

 Accents matter! Que is a relative pronoun while qué is an interrogative pronoun.

 Related lessons

Learn French En français

 Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Que - pronombre relativo

Questions about Spanish?

 Visit the Progress with Lawless Spanish Q+A forum to get help from native Spanish speakers and fellow learners.

More Lawless Spanish

 Subscribe to my free, weekly newsletter.

Support Lawless Spanish

  This free website is created with love and a great deal of work.

If you love it, please