Master Spanish Relative Pronouns: How to Use Que, Quien, and Cual


When you are learning Spanish, you eventually reach a point where you want to combine simple sentences into complex, fluid thoughts. To do this, you need relative pronouns. These small but powerful words—que, quien, and el cual—act as bridges, connecting a main clause to a description of a person or thing.

Understanding the nuance between these pronouns is essential for achieving fluency. While they all translate roughly to "that," "which," or "who" in English, they are not always interchangeable. In this guide, we will break down the rules so you can speak and write with confidence.

1. Que: The Universal Workhorse

The word que is the most frequently used relative pronoun in the Spanish language. It is incredibly versatile because it can refer to both people and objects. Unlike English, where we switch between "that," "which," and "who," Spanish often sticks with que.

  • Function: Defines or identifies a noun.

  • Usage: Used in "defining" clauses (clauses that provide essential information).

  • Example (Object): El libro que compré es interesante. (The book that I bought is interesting.)

  • Example (Person): La mujer que vive allí es doctora. (The woman who lives there is a doctor.)

Pro Tip: Que is the "default" choice. If you aren't sure which pronoun to use and there is no preposition (like de, con, or a) involved, que is almost always the correct answer.

2. Quien / Quienes: Focus on People

The pronoun quien (and its plural form quienes) refers exclusively to people. While que can also refer to people, quien is used in specific grammatical situations.

  • After Prepositions: When a pronoun follows a preposition (like a, con, de, or para) and refers to a person, you must use quien.

    • El hombre a quien viste es mi tío. (The man whom you saw is my uncle.)

  • In Non-Defining Clauses: These are phrases set off by commas that add extra, non-essential information.

    • Mi hermano, quien vive en Madrid, viene mañana. (My brother, who lives in Madrid, is coming tomorrow.)

Key Difference: You cannot use quien to refer to an object. Even if a car or a house feels like a "member of the family," it still requires que or cual.

3. El cual / El que: Precision and Formalism

These pronouns are more complex because they must match the gender and number of the noun they replace:

  • El cual / La cual (Singular)

  • Los cuales / Las cuales (Plural)

  • El que / La que / Los que / Las que (Alternative forms)

These are generally used in formal writing or to avoid ambiguity when there are two possible nouns the pronoun could be referring to.

  • Clarification: Imagine a sentence with two subjects: "I spoke with the daughter of the doctor, who was sick." In English, who was sick—the daughter or the doctor? In Spanish, using la cual (feminine) points to the daughter, while el cual (masculine) points to the doctor.

  • After Long Prepositions: While que works after short prepositions (en, de), longer prepositions like cerca de (near) or delante de (in front of) usually require el cual or el que.

    • La mesa, al lado de la cual estoy sentado... (The table, next to which I am sitting...)

Summary Table: Choosing the Right Relative Pronoun

PronounRefers ToCommon UsageFormal Level
QuePeople & ThingsGeneral, essential infoStandard
Quien(es)People OnlyAfter prepositions, offset by commasStandard/Formal
El cual (series)People & ThingsClarifying ambiguity, long prepositionsFormal
El que (series)People & ThingsAfter prepositions, "The one who..."Standard

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Forgetting Plurals: Remember that quien becomes quienes if you are talking about more than one person. Similarly, el cual must become los cuales or las cuales.

  2. Using "Quien" without a Preposition: In a simple sentence like "The girl who sings is my friend," many students incorrectly say "La chica quien canta...". Because there is no preposition and no comma, it must be "La chica que canta...".

  3. Overusing "El Cual": In casual conversation, el cual can sound a bit stiff. Stick to que or el que for everyday speaking.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to master these is to look at the noun right before the pronoun. Ask yourself: Is it a person? Is there a preposition? Is it formal? By answering these three questions, you will choose the correct relative pronoun every time.




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