Free Relatives
Free relatives (orações relativas livres) are clauses that act like a noun. They don't describe a specific noun in the sentence; they are the noun. Think of them as 'the one who' or 'what/that which'.
How It Works
Free relatives are a sophisticated part of Portuguese syntax. They are 'free' because they lack an explicit antecedent (a noun they refer back to).
1. The Pronouns:
- Quem: Used exclusively for humans. It is very common in proverbs and formal writing. In casual Brazilian Portuguese, speakers often replace it with 'a pessoa que' (the person who).
- O que: Used for objects, ideas, or actions. It is extremely frequent in all registers.
2. The Prepositional Rule:
At Level 6, it is crucial to understand how prepositions interact with free relatives. If the matrix (main) verb requires a preposition, that preposition must appear before the relative pronoun. For example, with gostar de: Eu gosto de quem fala a verdade (I like [the person] who speaks the truth). The preposition is mandatory because of the main verb's requirements.
3. The Matching Effect and Constraints:
A challenge arises when both the main verb and the relative clause verb require different prepositions. In such cases, Portuguese usually avoids the construction or considers it ungrammatical. For instance, you cannot easily combine a verb requiring em with a relative clause requiring de without rephrasing the sentence to include a formal antecedent like o qual or a demonstrative.
4. Distinction from Indirect Questions:
Do not confuse these with indirect questions. A free relative is referential (it refers to a specific, though unnamed, entity), whereas an indirect question signals a gap in knowledge.
Relative: 'Eu vi quem chegou' (I saw the person who arrived).
Interrogative: 'Não sei quem chegou' (I don't know who arrived).
Examples (5)
- Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.
He who wants everything, loses everything.
Word by Word: Who everything wants, everything loses.
A classic proverb where 'quem' acts as the subject of the sentence without a preceding noun.
- Não entendi o que você explicou.
I didn't understand what you explained.
Word by Word: Not (I) understood the that you explained.
Here, 'o que' functions as the direct object of the verb 'entender'.
- Darei o prêmio a quem chegar primeiro.
I will give the prize to whoever arrives first.
Word by Word: (I) will give the prize to who arrives first.
The preposition 'a' is required by the verb 'dar' and precedes the free relative pronoun 'quem'.
- O que ele faz não me interessa.
What he does doesn't interest me.
Word by Word: The that he does not me interests.
The entire clause 'O que ele faz' acts as the subject of the verb 'interessar'.
- Eu gosto de quem me diz a verdade.
I like those who tell me the truth.
Word by Word: I like of who me tells the truth.
The preposition 'de' is required by 'gostar' and correctly precedes the free relative 'quem'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'quem' to refer to non-human objects.
Eu comprei quem você recomendou.Eu comprei o que você recomendou.In Portuguese, 'quem' is strictly for people. For objects or 'what', you must use 'o que'.
Dropping the 'o' in 'o que' when it functions as a free relative.
Que ele disse é verdade.O que ele disse é verdade.Unlike English 'what', the Portuguese relative 'que' cannot stand alone as a subject; it needs the neuter article 'o' to become a free relative.
Preposition stranding (placing the preposition at the end of the clause).
Quem eu falei com...Com quem eu falei...In Portuguese, prepositions must always come before the relative pronoun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand free relatives, a learner must first be comfortable with standard relative pronouns (que, quem) and how they connect clauses. Additionally, familiarity with neuter demonstratives is helpful because free relatives often stand in for abstract concepts or unspecified objects (e.g., 'o que' meaning 'that which').
- quemRelative Pronoun Quem
The word 'quem' is one of the primary markers for free relatives referring to people, so its basic relative function must be understood first.
Level 3 - isto/isso/aquiloNeuter Demonstrative Pronouns
Free relatives like 'o que' often function as neuter concepts similar to neuter demonstrative pronouns, representing an abstract idea or thing.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- queRelative Pronoun Que
Standard relative pronouns require an antecedent noun, whereas free relatives do not.
Level 3 - Indirect Questions
Indirect questions look identical to free relatives but function to express a lack of knowledge rather than referring to a specific thing.
Level 6 - Relative Clause Mood
Free relatives often trigger the subjunctive if the entity being referred to is hypothetical or non-specific.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice Free Relatives in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Portuguese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
