QUE and QUIEN Used as RELATIVE PRONOUNS

SOME TERMS TO KNOW MAIN CLAUSE - contains a subject and verb and can stand on its own. This is my brother. RELATIVE (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE - is related to the main clause - begins with a relative pronoun - contains a subject and verb but cannot stand on its own -who plays basketball ANTECEDENT - a noun or pronoun previously mentioned in the main clause (=my brother) RELATIVE PRONOUN - renames the antecedent (=who)

A RELATIVE PRONOUN Stands for a noun or another pronoun previously mentioned. (the ANTECEDENT) Is RELATED to (renames) the ANTECEDENT. Introduces a RELATIVE (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE. Can function as the subject or object of the RELATIVE (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE.

IN OTHER WORDS A RELATIVE PRONOUN connects two clauses that have a related idea. It allows the writer to combine two thoughts with a common element into one sentence. This is my brother. He plays basketball. This is my brother WHO plays basketball.

FOR EXAMPLE This is the boy who broke the window. The MAIN CLAUSE = This is the boy The RELATIVE (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE = who broke the window WHO is the RELATIVE PRONOUN that stands for the ANTECEDENT, BOY WHO is the subject of this relative (subordinate) clause. (who broke the window is called a relative clause because it starts with a relative pronoun.)

QUE and QUIEN QUE is the RELATIVE PRONOUN used to refer to people or things. EXCEPT When QUE is the object of the prepositions - a, de, con it can refer only to things. After a, de, con, QUIEN is used to refer to people. QUE AND QUIEN never change when used as the subject or object of the relative clause. (They are invariable.)

USING QUE AS A RELATIVE PRONOUN Juan es el estudiante que estudia más. Juan is the student who studies most. QUE is the relative pronoun that stands for the ANTECEDENT, JUAN. Este es el libro que es muy interesante. This is the book which(that) is very interesting. QUE is the relative pronoun that stands for the ANTECEDENT, LIBRO.

USING QUIEN AS A RELATIVE PRONOUN Juan es el amigo con quien estudio en la biblioteca. Juan is the student with whom I study in the library. Alicia es la chica a quien el profesor habla. Alicia is the girl to whom the teacher is speaking. El señor Gomez es el profesor de quien los estudiantes hablan. Mr. Gomez is the teacher about whom the students are talking.

ALWAYS REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET EVEN IF THE RELATIVE PRONOUN IS OMITTED IN ENGLISH (Which it often is) IT CANNOT BE OMITTED IN SPANISH.

The book (that,which) Im reading is very interesting. ( The relative pronoun that/which is often omitted in English) El libro QUE leo es muy interesante. (The relative pronoun que CANNOT be omitted in Spanish.)(QUE is the object of this subordinate clause.) The car (that/which) my father has is new. (The relative pronoun that/which is often omitted in English. El carro QUE mi padre tiene es nuevo. (The relative pronoun QUE CANNOT be omitted in Spanish. (QUE is the object of this subordinate clause.)

Combine these sentences using the relative pronoun QUE or QUIEN Juan es mi amigo. El es muy alto. Juan es mi amigo que es muy alto. Juan es mi amigo. Estudio con el. Juan es el amigo con quien estudio. Julia y María son chicas inteligentes. Ellas estudian mucho. Julia y María son chicas inteligentes que estudian mucho.

Combine the elements to form a sentence using the relative pronoun QUE Pintar / Juan (Juan is the boy who paints very well.) Juan es el chico que pinta muy bien. Sacar la basura / mi padre (Its my father who takes out the trash in our house.) Es mi padre que saca la basura en nuestra casa. Lavar el carro / mi hermano (Its my brother who washes the car.) Es mi hermano que lava el carro.

Translate the sentences using the relative pronoun QUIEN 1. Who is the boy to whom Andrea is talking? (Who is the boy Andrea is talking to?) ¿Quién es el chico a quien Andrea habla? Mr. Franco is the teacher with whom I need to talk after class. (Mr. Franco is the teacher I need to talk to after class.) El Señor Franco es el profesor con quien necesito hablar después de clase.