Relative Pronouns Spanish Three Honors C.12

Definition: A Pronoun is a word that that the place of a noun. A Relative pronoun is an word or expression used to introduce a clause that RELATES to or modifies a noun used in a previous clause. ie…Yo necesito el papel QUE tengo en mi cuaderno. Helpful Tip: Many times in English the relative pronoun is left out. In Spanish it MUST BE included.

QUE (that, who)(most common): Que is used @85% of the time. When in doubt, use que. Used in a clause to modify a person NOT set off by a comma and/or is NOT introduced by one of the following prepositions (con, de, en, a). ie…Paco is the boy that works at Del Taco. Used in a clause to describe a PLACE or a THING. after prepositions con, de, en, a (CONDENA) in a clause to describe a place or a thing use QUE

QUIEN, QUIENES (who, whom): Helpful Hint: quien or quienes without accents Used in a clause to modify a person set off by a comma. ie…Paco, who works at Del Taco, is tall. after prepositions con, de, en, a (CONDENA) in a clause to describe a person use QUIEN Used in a clause to modify the second of two antecedents. ie…El padre de Paco, quien vive en Perú, es alto.

EL QUE, LA QUE, LOS QUE, LAS QUE (long form): Used in a clause for clarification or emphasis ie…My friend, the one who lives in Cuba, is going to Disneyland. Used in a clause that is introduced by a prepositions other than con, de, en, or a. The forms using POR or SIN typically uses the cual versions to avoid confusion. ie…La biblioteca detrás de la cual hay un museo. The library behind which there is a museum.

EL QUE, LA QUE, LOS QUE, LAS QUE (long form): Used in a clause to modify the first of two antecedents. ie…El padre de Paco, el que vive en Perú, es alto. QUE and CUAL forms are used interchangably EXCEPT at the start of a sentence, then the QUE must be used. ie… El que imita buenos modelos será bueno.

LO, LO QUE, LO CUAL (neuters): LO is used together with a m/s adjective to refer to an abstract concept. ie… Lo importante es que entiendes los conceptos. LO can be used to refer to a previously stated concept. ie… Los libros son horribles. Lo son.

LO, LO QUE, LO CUAL (neuters): The neuters are used to refer to an action or abstract idea, not a person or thing. ie… No entiendo lo que quiere decir. I don’t understand what you mean. QUE and CUAL forms are used interchangably EXCEPT at the start of a sentence, then the QUE must be used. ie… Lo que no te mata, te hace más fuerte.

CUYO, CUYA, CUYOS, CUYAS Relative Adjectives (“whose” modifying a secondary noun): Typically translated as WHOSE in English and is used like a restrictive adjective modifying a secondary noun. (It does not agree with the possessor, but rather the person or thing following it). ie… Paco, cuya novia vive en San Juan, es alto.

Guided Practice quien El hombre, _______ es mi hermano, se llama Paco. La casa ______ está cerca de la esquina es muy linda. Los chicos a ______ conocimos anoche son cubanos. No vamos a México este año, _______ me molesta mucho. Siempre paga _________ debes. que quienes lo que lo que