Relative Clauses Flashcards
that/who/what/which
Antonio, that wears glasses, is in my class.
The glasses that wears-Antonio are new.
person/thing/concepts/events
que (most casual for ppl)
Antonio, que lleva gafas, está en mi clase.
Las gafas que lleva Antonio son nuevas.
It can introduce defining and non-defining relative clauses (oraciones explicativas, oraciones especificativas).
that/who/which
This picture, in the which I am(have) 12 years, it taken my father.
This picture, in which I’m 12, was taken by my father.
person/thing
el/la/los/las que (most formal ppl)
Esta foto, en la que tengo doce años, la hizo/tomó/sacó mi padre.
that/who
Antonio, [the] that wears glasses, goes to my class.
person/thing
el/la/los/las que (most formal ppl)
Antonio, el que lleva gafas, va a mi clase.
If there is no preposition before el que, it can only be used between commas.
- “non-defining relative clauses”
that/who
My friend Lucas, to the I know since my childhood, is very fun.
The boys/guys with the-that I go out are my best friends.
person/thing
My friend Lucas, who I’ve known since childhood, is a lot of fun. (non-defining)
The guys with whom I go out with are my best friends. (defined)
el/la/los/las que (most formal ppl)
Mi amigo Lucas, al que conozco desde mi infancia, es muy divertido. (non-defining)
Los chicos con los que salgo son mis mejores amigos. (defining)
If there is a preposition before el que, it can be used in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.
that/who
Antonio, the which|that wears glasses, is in my class. (non-defining)
person/thing
el/la/los/las cual(es) (most formal ppl)
Antonio, el cual|que lleva gafas, está en mi clase.
Without a preposition, el cual can only be used between commas.
- non-defining relative clauses
that/who (most formal)
My friend Lucas, to the-which I know since childhood, is very fun.
The guys/boys with the-which I go out are my best friends.
person/thing
My friend Lucas, whom I’ve known since childhood, is a lot of fun. (non-defining)
The guys I go out with are my best friends. (defined)
el/la/los/las cual(es) (most formal ppl)
Mi amigo Lucas, al cual conozco desde mi infancia, es muy divertido. (non-defining)
Los chicos con los cuales salgo son mis mejores amigos. (defining)
With a preposition, el cual can be used in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.
(that) which/what/the thing that
I don’t know that which I am going to prepare(/make) to eat dinner.
idea/action
lo que
No sé lo que voy a preparar para cenar.
The relative pronouns lo que and lo cual refer to a complete sentence or to an idea.
Lo cual always refers to something that is explicitly stated in the main clause.
(that) which/what/the thing that
Today come my friends to eat dinner, that what|which to-me joys a lot.
My friends are coming over for dinner today, which makes me very happy.
idea/action
lo que/cual
Hoy vienen mis amigos a cenar, lo que|cual me alegra mucho.
The relative pronouns lo que and lo cual refer to a complete sentence or to an idea.
Lo cual always refers to something that is explicitly stated in the main clause.
who
Antonio, who|that wears glasses, is in my class.
person
quien (2nd most formal ppl)
Antonio, quien|que lleva gafas, está en mi clase.
If there is no preposition, it can be used instead of que between commas
- in non-defining relative clauses
that/where
We’re at the store || in-the-that | (in) where || we buy the boots of winter.
person/thing/concepts/events
que|donde (most casual ppl)
Estamos en la tienda || en la que | (en) donde || compramos las botas de invierno.
If the relative clause is introduced by a preposition, we also need an article before que.
who | the that/which
My friends, with || who | the-that/which || I went to (high) school, come to eat dinner today.
I met up with || who | the-that/which || you saw in the park the other day.
person
quien (2nd most formal ppl)
Mis amigos, con || quienes | los que/cuales || fui al colegio, vienen a cenar hoy.
Me reuní con || quien | el que/cual || viste en el parque el otro día.
If there is a preposition, quien can be used instead of el que or el cual and their variants
- in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.
who
Whoever warns is not (a) traitor.
Those who know us know that we are very good friends.
person
quien (2nd most formal ppl)
Quien avisa no es traidor.
Quienes nos conocen saben que somos muy buenos amigos.
Quien can also refer to something that is not explicitly stated in the sentence
whose (formal)
Antonio, whose glasses are new, is short-sighted.
-
rephrase to be more colloquial
Antonio, who has glasses new, is short-sighted.
possession
cuyo|a(s)
Antonio, cuyas gafas son nuevas, es miope.
-
reformular para que sea más coloquial
Antonio, que tiene gafas nuevas, es miope.
agrees in gender and number with the possession, not with the owner.
everything/everyone/all (formal)
He recounted to the police how much he remembered.
He adopts to as many cats he finds.
-
rephrase to be more colloquial
He recounted to the police everything that-which he remembered.
He adopts to all the cats that he finds.
amount
cuanto
Le contó a la policía cuanto recordaba.
Adopta a cuantos gatos encuentra.
-
reformular para que sea más coloquial
Le contó a la policia todo lo que recordaba.
Adopta a todos los gatos que encuentra.
where
That is the store (in) where Antonio bought his glasses.
That is the store in-the-which Antonio bought his glasses.
place
donde
Esa es la tienda (en) donde Antonio compró sus gafas.
Esa es la tienda en la que Antonio compró sus gafas.
The use of the preposition en to indicate location is optional.