que / qual
Que vs. Qual
Que = What/Which (Open-ended, definitions, or 'what kind of').
Qual = Which/What (Selection from a group, names, or specific identifiers).
How It Works
To become proficient in using these interrogatives, remember these four main rules:
1. Definitions vs. Selections: Use que when asking for a definition or general information (e.g., 'What is a molecule?'). Use qual when there is a limited set of options, even if they aren't explicitly listed (e.g., 'Which of these do you want?').
2. Personal Identifiers: Unlike English, Portuguese uses qual for specific identifiers like names, phone numbers, and addresses. Asking 'Que é o seu nome?' sounds like you are asking for the definition of the word 'name'.
3. Grammatical Behavior:
- O que is the standard form for 'what' when it functions as a subject or object before a verb.
- O quê (with a circumflex) is mandatory when the word appears at the end of a sentence or stands alone.
- Qual changes to quais when referring to plural items.
- Before a noun, European Portuguese (EP) strongly prefers que (e.g., 'Que livro?'), while Brazilian Portuguese (BP) often uses qual (e.g., 'Qual livro?').
4. Natural Flow: In spoken Portuguese, especially in Portugal, the phrase é que is frequently added after the question word (e.g., 'O que é que você quer?') to make the sentence sound more natural.
Examples (6)
- O que é isto?
What is this?
Word by Word: The what is this?
Use 'o que' as the standard form for general, open-ended questions before a verb.
- Qual é o seu nome?
What is your name?
Word by Word: Which is the your name?
'Qual' is used for specific identifiers like names, phone numbers, and addresses.
- Você fez o quê?
You did what?
Word by Word: You did the what?
When 'que' appears at the end of a sentence or stands alone, it must take a circumflex accent: 'o quê'.
- O que é que você quer?
What is it that you want?
Word by Word: The what is that you want?
The phrase 'é que' is often added after question words for emphasis or natural flow in speech.
- Qual destes livros você prefere?
Which of these books do you prefer?
Word by Word: Which of-these books you prefer?
Use 'qual' when choosing from a specific, delimited group.
- Quais são os seus planos?
What are your plans?
Word by Word: Which are the your plans?
'Qual' becomes 'quais' when the subject is plural.
Common Mistakes
Using 'Qual' for definitions.
Qual é a biologia?O que é a biologia?When asking for a definition of a concept, always use 'que' or 'o que'.
Using 'O que' directly before a noun.
O que livro você quer?Que livro você quer?When followed immediately by a noun, use 'que' without the 'o'.
Forgetting to pluralize 'qual'.
Qual são as cores?Quais são as cores?'Qual' must agree in number with the noun it refers to.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- que/quem/onde/quando/como/quanto/por queQuestion Words
This is the broader set of question words that 'que' and 'qual' belong to.
Foundations - Subject-Verb Inversion in Questions
Explains how to structure the rest of the sentence when using 'que' or 'qual'.
Level 3 - onde é que/quando é queEmphatic É Que
The 'é que' structure is very frequently used with 'qual' and 'que' in European Portuguese.
Level 3 - quanto/quanta/quantos/quantasQuanto Agreement
Another interrogative that, like 'qual', must agree with the noun it modifies.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice que / qual in Bubblegum
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