Relative Pronouns in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Master the main relative pronouns que, quien, el que, and lo que
- Understand when to use each relative pronoun based on context and meaning
- Learn how relative pronouns connect sentences and avoid repetition
- Practice creating complex sentences by joining ideas with relative pronouns
- Master the agreement rules for relative pronouns with their antecedents
Connect Your Ideas Like a Native Speaker
Relative pronouns are the glue that holds complex sentences together in Spanish. They allow you to combine simple sentences into more sophisticated ones, making your Spanish sound more fluent and natural. Think of them as the Spanish equivalents of “who,” “whom,” “which,” “that,” and “what” in English.
What are Relative Pronouns?
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses – parts of a sentence that give more information about a noun (the antecedent). They connect two related ideas into one sentence.
| Simple Sentences: | Combined with Relative Pronoun: |
|---|---|
| “Tengo un amigo. Él habla tres idiomas.” | “Tengo un amigo que habla tres idiomas.” |
| “Compré el libro. El libro está en la mesa.” | “Compré el libro que está en la mesa.” |
The Main Relative Pronouns
Essential Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | Use For | English Equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Que | People and things (most common) | who, whom, that, which | El hombre que vino ayer (The man who came yesterday) |
| Quien/Quienes | People only (more formal) | who, whom | La señora quien me ayudó (The lady who helped me) |
| El que/La que/Los que/Las que | People and things (specific) | the one who, the one that | Prefiero el que tiene ventanas (I prefer the one that has windows) |
| Lo que | Ideas, concepts, entire situations | what, that which | No entiendo lo que dices (I don’t understand what you’re saying) |
💡 Grammar Tip: Que is the most versatile and commonly used relative pronoun. When in doubt, you can often use “que” and be understood.
When to Use Each Relative Pronoun
Use QUE when:
- Referring to people OR things
- In everyday, informal speech
- No preposition is involved
- Examples:
- “El libro que leí” (The book that I read)
- “La mujer que canta” (The woman who sings)
Use QUIEN when:
- Referring only to people
- After prepositions (a, con, de, para, etc.)
- In more formal contexts
- Examples:
- “El señor con quien trabajo” (The man with whom I work)
- “La persona para quien compré el regalo” (The person for whom I bought the gift)
Use EL QUE/LA QUE when:
- You need to be very specific
- Emphasizing “the one who/that”
- After prepositions (alternative to quien)
- Examples:
- “Prefiero la que es más grande” (I prefer the one that is bigger)
- “El chico con el que estudio” (The boy with whom I study)
Use LO QUE when:
- Referring to ideas, concepts, or entire situations
- Meaning “what” or “that which”
- No specific antecedent
- Examples:
- “Lo que dices es importante” (What you say is important)
- “No me gusta lo que pasó” (I don’t like what happened)
Agreement Rules
El que/La que/Los que/Las que must agree with their antecedent in gender and number:
| Antecedent | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | el que | El coche el que compré |
| Feminine singular | la que | La casa la que vi |
| Masculine plural | los que | Los libros los que leí |
| Feminine plural | las que | Las mesas las que vendí |
Putting It All Together: Real Examples
Conversation 1: Describing People
Ana: ¿Conoces al hombre que trabaja en la oficina nueva?
Carlos: Sí, es la persona con quien tengo la reunión mañana.
Ana: ¿Es el señor el que siempre llega temprano?
Carlos: Exacto. Es muy profesional, lo que me gusta mucho.
Translation:
Ana: Do you know the man who works in the new office?
Carlos: Yes, he’s the person with whom I have a meeting tomorrow.
Ana: Is he the gentleman who always arrives early?
Carlos: Exactly. He’s very professional, which I like a lot.
Conversation 2: Shopping Decisions
Cliente: Busco un vestido que sea elegante pero cómodo.
Vendedor: Tenemos varios que podrían gustarle. ¿Prefiere los que son de algodón o las que son de seda?
Cliente: Me gusta lo que me muestra. Probarme el que tiene flores.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using “que” after prepositions: “La mujer con que hablé” (awkward) → “La mujer con quien hablé” (better)
- Wrong agreement: “Las mesas el que compré” (wrong) → “Las mesas las que compré” (correct)
- Confusing “que” and “qué”: “No sé que quieres” (wrong) → “No sé lo que quieres” (correct)
- Overusing “quien”: In everyday speech, “que” is more natural for people
- Missing the antecedent: Make sure it’s clear what the relative pronoun refers to
Quick Reference Chart
| Situation | Best Choice | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| People (no preposition) | que | quien |
| Things (no preposition) | que | el que/la que |
| People (with preposition) | quien | el que/la que |
| Things (with preposition) | el que/la que | (no alternative) |
| Ideas/concepts | lo que | (no alternative) |
| Specific “the one who” | el que/la que/los que/las que | que |
Practice Exercise: Choose the Correct Pronoun
Choose the correct relative pronoun:
- El libro ______ (that) leíste es interesante.
- La señora con ______ (whom) trabajo es muy amable.
- No entiendo ______ (what) quieres decir.
- Prefiero la casa ______ (that) tiene jardín.
Answers:
- que
- quien
- lo que
- que (or la que for emphasis)
📚 Build on your knowledge: Review Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns
Ready to Create Complex Sentences?
Think you’ve mastered relative pronouns? Test your ability to connect ideas and create sophisticated Spanish sentences!
Take Our Relative Pronouns Quiz ►
