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.
how
Dance like/how you know.
manner
como
Baila como sabes.
when/as
Last week, when I came back from vacation, it rained non-stop.
time
cuando
La semana pasada, cuando volví de vacaciones, llovió sin parar.
the thing that
la cosa que
we can usually (not always) use the expression la cosa que as well. similar to English
doesn’t really work mid-sentence
lo que vs que
The (high) school is closed, which means that they are on holiday
The (high) school, which is closed, will open next week.
lo que = the whole sentence/idea that the school is closed:
El colegio está cerrado, lo que quiere decir que están de vacaciones
Whereas in this example with que, it refers to the noun, the school
El colegio, que está cerrado, abrirá la semana que viene
RC after Haber
In my city there are lots of interesting monuments to visit.
In my city there are lots of interesting monuments [that the people can] visit.
En mi ciudad hay muchos monumentos interesantes que visitar.
En mi ciudad hay muchos monumentos interesantes que [la gente puede] visitar.
RC after Tener
I can’t go out today; I have lots of things to do.
I can’t go out today; I have lots of things [that I should] do.
Hoy no puedo salir; tengo un montón de cosas que hacer.
Hoy no puedo salir; tengo un montón de cosas que [debería] hacer.
RC after Quedar
To me remain two chapters to read and I will have finshed finally the book.
To me remain two chapters [that I need] to read and I will have finshed finally the book.
I have two chapters left to read and I will then have finished the book, at last.
I have two chapters left [that I need] to read and I will then have finished the book, at last.
Me quedan dos capítulos que leer y habré terminado por fin el libro.
Me quedan dos capítulos que [necesito] leer y habré terminado por fin el libro.
to + whom|which
about/from + whom|which
about/from who
a + el/la/los/las que|cual(es)
de + el/la/los/las que|cual(es)
de quien(es)
with what|which|whom
for what|which|whom
in what|which
con + el/las/los/las que|cual(es)|quien(es)
para + el/las/los/las que|cual(es)|quien(es)
en + el/las/los/las que|cual(es)
preposition + that which + clause
In that which to my respect(/As far as I am concerned), I don’t have any more questions.
Be careful with that which you wish for.
For that which(/what) it’s worth, it is better not to anger.
I don’t know of that which (what) you talk.
She angered because that which I said to her the other day.
[con, para, en, de, por …] +lo que+ [cláusula]
En lo que a mí respecta, no tengo más preguntas.
Ten cuidado con lo que deseas.
Para lo que vale la pena, es mejor no enojarse.
No sé de lo que hablas.
Se enojó por lo que le dije el otro día.
whatever/whichever
You’ll have to accept the truth, whatever that might be.
Whatever it is that happened at that party, I prefer not to find out of nothing.
subjunctive + lo que + subjunctive
Tendrás que aceptar la verdad, sea lo que sea.
Pasara lo que pasara en esa fiesta, prefiero no averiguar de nada.
whatever/whichever
I’ll say that yes(/accept) to his proposal, whichever his conditions (he sets).
There you have two ties; whichever it is you choose, to-you it will suit with the blue shirt.
subjunctive +lo que+ subjunctive
Diré que sí a su propuesta, sean cuales sean sus condiciones.
Ahí tienes dos corbatas; escojas cual escojas, te quedará bien con la camisa azul.
whatever/whichever
Whichever [tie] you choose, to you it will suit well.
If we are referring to something in particular, we can also use el/la/los/las que with the same meaning as cual but it has a less formal register
subjunctive +lo que+ subjunctive
Escojas la que escojas, te quedará bien.
however
I have said that I’m not going to buy you the bike however you put yourself (much you insist/no matter what).
Javier said that it he would get however he had to/no matter what.
subjunctive +como+ subjunctive
He dicho que no te voy a comprar la bici te pongas como te pongas.
Javier dijo que lo conseguiría fuera como fuera.
wherever
It’s going to be a party of anniversary very special, wherever we celebrate it.
The taxes one must pay-them, wherever you live/no matter where you live.
subjunctive +donde+ subjunctive
Va a ser una fiesta de aniversario muy especial, lo celebremos donde lo celebremos.
Los impuestos hay que pagarlos, vivas donde vivas.
whenever
Call us, whenever you get there, no matter if it is very late.
I will be pending of (I’ll keep an eye on) the events and to you it I will communicate (will tell you about it) whenever it happens/no matter when it happens.
subjunctive +cuando+ subjunctive
Llámennos, lleguen cuando lleguen, no importa si es muy tarde.
Estaré pendiente de los eventos y te lo comunicaré pase cuando pase.
whoever
It doesn’t matter who to you it has told, I wouldn’t pay attention to those rumors.
Whoever it is the-one that sent me flowers, she must be a romantic.
subjunctive +quien+ subjunctive
Te lo haya dicho quien te lo haya dicho, yo no haría caso a esos rumores.
Sea quien sea la que me mandó flores, debe ser una romántica.
It doesn’t matter which party is governing, always there will be corruption.
Call me no matter what time it is.
What is between the two subjunctives may not always be a relative pronoun or an adverb; we can also find this type of structure with a noun
Gobierne el partido que gobierne, siempre habrá corrupción.
Llámame sea la hora que sea.
the one(s) that/who
The one that has the first page torn is mine.
The one who is seated on the table of the corner is called Verónica.
person/thing
no antecedent
el/la/los/las que (quien)
El que tiene la primera página rota, es mío.
La que está sentada en la mesa de la esquina se llama Verónica.
it is understood that:
- These must have been mentioned previously in the conversation so that the other person knows what they are referring to.
the one(s) that/who
Those houses of there are the ones that José wanted to buy.
They were the ones that have seen me.
My friends were the ones that encouraged me to go to the trip.
person/thing
with antecedent
el/la/los/las que (quien)
Esas casas de allí son las que José quería comprar.
Ellos fueron los que me han visto.
Mis amigos fueron las que me animaron a ir al viaje.
the one(s) that/who
That lady over there, the one that has the black hair, is the mother of Antonio.
Get(/Grab) a couple of bananas, the ones that are more mature(/ripe).
person/thing
with antecedent (between commas)
el/la/los/las que (quien)
Aquella mujer, la que tiene el cabello negro, es la madre de Antonio.
Recoge un par de plátanos, los que están más maduros.
When we have an antecedent followed by a relative (el que,la que,los que,las que)
but we are adding information to clarify which specific group within that subject we are referring to,
we add commas and the meaning of the sentence changes
