Relative que
Relative Pronoun Que
Que connects a noun to a clause that describes it: o libro que lin (the book I read), a moza que vive aquí (the girl who lives here). It covers English "who", "which" and "that".
How It Works
Subject or object. The same que works in both roles:
- A moza que vive aquí é enfermeira. (The girl who lives here is a nurse.) Que is the subject of vive.
- O libro que lin era moi bo. (The book I read was very good.) Que is the object of lin.
Never left out. English often leaves out "that": "the film we saw". Galician needs que: a película que vimos.
Pronouns go before the verb. A relative clause is a subordinate clause, so object pronouns come before the verb: o regalo que me deches (the present you gave me), a persoa que te chamou (the person who called you). See pronouns in subordinate clauses.
With a preposition. When the clause needs a preposition, the article usually goes between the preposition and que: a casa na que vivo (the house I live in). See prepositions before relatives. For people after a preposition you can also use quen, and for places onde.
Commas. A clause between commas adds extra information about a noun that is already identified: A miña avoa, que ten noventa anos, aínda anda en bicicleta. See defining and non-defining clauses.
Examples (6)
- O libro que me deixaches é moi bo.
The book you lent me is very good.
Word by Word: The book that me lent-you is very good.
- A moza que vive aquí é enfermeira.
The young woman who lives here is a nurse.
Word by Word: The girl that lives here is nurse.
- Vimos a película que nos recomendaches.
We saw the film you recommended to us.
Word by Word: Saw-we the film that us recommended-you.
- Os tomates que merquei onte xa están maduros.
The tomatoes I bought yesterday are already ripe.
Word by Word: The tomatoes that bought-I yesterday already are ripe.
- Tes o número do rapaz que arranxa bicicletas?
Do you have the number of the guy who fixes bikes?
Word by Word: Have-you the number of-the boy that fixes bicycles?
- A miña avoa, que ten noventa anos, aínda anda en bicicleta.
My grandmother, who is ninety, still rides a bike.
Word by Word: The my grandmother, that has ninety years, still goes in bicycle.
Between commas, the clause adds extra information about someone already identified.
Common Mistakes
Leaving que out, as English does with "that".
O libro me deixaches é moi bo.O libro que me deixaches é moi bo.Galician always needs que to start a relative clause.
Using quen as the subject right after a noun.
A moza quen vive aquí é enfermeira.A moza que vive aquí é enfermeira.In a clause that identifies the noun, quen is used only after a preposition, as in a persoa con quen falei. As a subject, use que.
Putting the pronoun after the verb.
O libro que deixáchesme é moi bo.O libro que me deixaches é moi bo.After que, object pronouns go before the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Relative que connects a noun to a clause describing or identifying it.
Related Patterns
- Relative quen
The relative for people after a preposition.
Level 3 - Relative onde
The relative for places.
Level 3 - Preposition + Article + quePrepositions Before Relatives
How que combines with prepositions: na que, co que, do que.
Level 4 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Why pronouns go before the verb after que.
Level 3 - Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses
The difference that commas make in relative clauses.
Level 5 - Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
When a relative clause takes the subjunctive.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Relative que in Bubblegum
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