5.3 Relative Pronouns
The relative pronoun que
Echa unas monedas en esas
maquinitas que ha puesto el
ayuntamiento y lo deja aquí
al lado.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
•
Que (that, which, who) is the most frequently used relative pronoun
(pronombre relativo). It can refer to people or things, subjects or objects,
and can be used in restrictive clauses (without commas) or nonrestrictive
clauses (with commas). Note that while some relative pronouns may be
omitted in English, they must always be used in Spanish.
El incendio que vimos ayer destruyó la tercera parte del bosque.
The fire (that) we saw yesterday destroyed a third of the forest.
Los ciudadanos que van a la manifestación exigen respuestas del gobierno.
The citizens who are going to the protest demand answers from the government.
La inundación fue causada por la lluvia, que ha durado más de dos semanas.
The flood was caused by the rain, which has lasted over two weeks.
¡ATENCIÓN!
Relative pronouns are used to connect short sentences or clauses to create
longer, more fluid sentences. Unlike the interrogative words qué, quién(es),
and cuál(es), relative pronouns never carry accent marks.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
• In a restrictive (without commas) clause where no
preposition or personal a precedes the relative pronoun,
always use que.
Las ballenas que encontraron en la playa estaban vivas.
The whales they found on the beach were alive.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
El que/La que
• After prepositions, que follows the definite article: el
que, la que, los que or las que. The article must agree
in gender and number with the antecedent (the noun or
pronoun to which it refers). When referring to things (but
not people), the article may be omitted after short
prepositions, such as en, de, and con.
La mujer para la que trabajo
llegará a las seis.
El edificio en (el) que viven es
viejo.
The woman (whom) I work for
will arrive at six.
The building (that) they live in is
old.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
• El que, la que, los que, and las que are also used for
clarification to refer to a previously mentioned person or
thing.
Hablé con los vecinos que tienen perros pero no con los que tienen gatos.
I talked to the neighbors who have dogs but not to the ones who have cats.
Si puedes optar entre dos compañías, elige la que paga más.
If you can choose between two companies, pick the one that pays more.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
5.3-5
5.3 Relative Pronouns
El cual/La cual
• El cual, la cual, los cuales, and las cuales are
generally interchangeable with el que, la que, los que,
and las que after prepositions. They are often used in
more formal speech or writing. Note that when el cual
and its forms are used, the definite article is never
omitted.
El edificio en el cual viven es viejo.
The building in which they live is old.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
Quien/Quienes
• Quien (sing.) and quienes (pl.) only refer to people.
Quien(es) can therefore generally be replaced by
forms of el que and el cual, although the reverse is
not always true.
Los investigadores, quienes (los que/los cuales) estudian la erosión,
son de Ecuador.
The researchers, who are studying erosion, are from Ecuador.
El investigador de quien (del que/del cual) hablaron era mi profesor.
The researcher (whom) they spoke about was my professor.
¡ATENCIÓN!
When used with a or de, the contractions al que/al cual
and del que/del cual are formed.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
• Although que and quien(es) may both refer to people,
their use depends on the structure of the sentence. In
restrictive clauses (without commas), only que is used if
no preposition or personal a is necessary. If a
preposition or personal a is necessary, quien (or a form
of el que/el cual) is used instead.
La gente que vive en la capital está harta del smog.
The people who live in the capital are tired of the smog.
Esperamos una respuesta de los biólogos a quienes (a los que/a los
cuales) llamamos.
We’re waiting for a response from the biologists (whom) we called.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
• In nonrestrictive clauses (with commas) that refer to
people, que is more common in spoken Spanish, but
quien(es) (or a form of el que/el cual) is preferred in
written speech.
Juan y María, que viven conmigo, me regañan si dejo las luces
prendidas.
Juan and María, who live with me, scold me if I leave the lights on.
Las expertas, quienes por fin concedieron la entrevista, no
mencionaron la sequía.
The experts, who finally granted the interview, didn’t mention the
drought.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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5.3 Relative Pronouns
The relative adjective cuyo
• The relative adjective cuyo (cuya, cuyos, cuyas)
means whose and agrees in number and gender with the
noun it precedes. When asking to whom something
belongs, use ¿de quién(es)?, not a form of cuyo.
El equipo, cuyo proyecto aprobaron, viajará a las islas Galápagos en febrero.
The team, whose project they approved, will travel to the Galapagos Islands in
February.
La colega, cuyas ideas mejoraron el plan, no tiene tiempo para realizar el proyecto.
The colleague, whose ideas improved the plan, doesn’t have time to do the project.
¿De quién es este mapa de Venezuela?
Whose map of Venezuela is this?
Es mío, pero no es un mapa. Es un atlas cuyos autores son venezolanos.
It’s mine, but it’s not a map. It’s an atlas whose authors are Venezuelan.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
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