el que / allò que

Neuter Relatives El Que and Allò Que

Level 4

El que and allò que introduce free relatives referring to things or content.

How It Works

El que dius és cert means what you say is true. The relative expression itself functions as a noun phrase; it does not need a separate antecedent before el que. Allò que can make the thing or content reference more explicit.

This neuter reading differs from el que referring to an omitted masculine noun in a contrast such as tria el que vulguis. Context tells whether a specific noun is understood or the expression means what in a general sense.

Do not confuse this construction with a sentence-level la qual cosa continuation, which comments on a preceding assertion. Free relatives occupy a normal subject, object or prepositional position in their own sentence.

Examples (3)

  1. El que dius és cert.

    What you say is true.

  2. No entenc allò que proposes.

    I do not understand what you propose.

  3. Farem el que sigui necessari.

    We will do whatever is necessary.

How It Connects

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el que / allò queLevel 4Neuter Relatives El Que and Allò Que

Learn This First

Build a relative clause before adding nonidentified or free-relative reference. Identify neuter reference before building a free relative about content.

Words in This Pattern