Relative PronounsRelative Pronouns Español 4 Español 4
Relative pronouns Relative pronouns are used to link
information found in different parts of a sentence.
The relative clause provides additional information about the person or thing mentioned in the first part of the sentence.
Quiero ir al museo que está cerca del centro
relative pronoun relative clause
Relative Pronouns
You introduce a relative clause with a relative pronoun.
The most common relative pronoun is que. que refers to both persons and things
el artista que pintó este cuadro
el obra teatral que divierte a todo el mundo
Relative Pronouns Quien (and the plural quienes) is the
relative pronoun that is used to refer to people. It is usually (but not always) used after a preposition.
la cantante con quien hablélos pintores de quienes te hablé
There is no accent mark on quien/quienes when you use them as relative pronouns.
Relative Pronouns
No Preposition Preposition
PEOPLE el hombre que habló
la mujer
con quien hablé
THINGS el libro que leo
la pluma
con que escribo
Relative Pronouns
In Spanish, Never end a sentence with a preposition!NOT – Ella es la chica él salió con
Ella es la chica con quien él salió.
Relative Pronouns
Never omit a relative pronoun in Spanish.
La persona que vi en la calle no está.
It can be omitted in English.
The person (that) I saw on the street is gone.
Relative Pronouns
You can also use the relative pronouns, el que and el cual, in the same way, but to show a stronger relationship or provide greater emphasis.
You will notice that these forms agree in gender and number with the noun to which they refer.
Relative Pronouns
Singular Plural
masculine el cual el que los cuales los que
feminine la cual la que las cuales las que
Relative Pronouns
Ejemplos: agree in gender & number
un templo en el que hay jeroglíficos
la guitarrista sin la cual no podemos tocar
Relative Pronouns
Note that in formal uses, such as writing, it is more common to use el cual instead of
el que. Informal
Hablé con el que llegó tarde. Formal
Cristóbal Colón fue un explorador famoso, el cual llegó a las Américas.
Relative Pronouns
The relative pronoun cuyo(a) means whose, refers to both persons and things.
It agrees with the thing (or person) possessed not the possessor.
Remember to make it agree in gender and number with the noun that follows:
El pintor cuyos cuadros nos gustaron
Relative Pronouns
Lo que means what, or that which. You use it when there is no direct person,
place or thing in the main clause to which you are referring.
It refers to a more generalized idea or concept.
No comprendo lo que quieres decir
¿Por qué no me dices lo que piensas?
Relative Pronouns
When you use lo que after todo it means all that, everything that.
Tienes que decirme todo lo que sabes.
Nos dieron todo lo que tenían