de quem

Whose (De Quem)

Level 1

In Portuguese, there is no single word for 'whose'. Instead, we use the combination de quem (literally 'of whom'). It is used for both questions and connecting sentences.

How It Works

To become proficient in asking about ownership, follow these rules for de quem:

  • Interrogative Structure: To ask 'Whose...?', start the sentence with de quem. The verb ser must agree with the object being possessed, not with 'quem'.
    Example: De quem são estas chaves? (Whose are these keys?)
  • Word Order: Unlike English, where we say 'Whose book is this?', Portuguese usually places the verb immediately after the question phrase: De quem é o livro?
  • Preposition 'De': The 'de' (of) is required because you are asking 'of whom' the object belongs. It never changes form, regardless of whether you are asking about one person or many.
  • Restriction: This phrase is used specifically for people. When asking about the owner of an item, de quem is the most natural choice in everyday conversation.

Examples (4)

  1. De quem é este celular?

    Whose cellphone is this?

    Word by Word: Of whom is this cellphone?

    A standard question. Notice 'de quem' comes first, followed by the verb 'é'.

  2. De quem são esses sapatos na porta?

    Whose are those shoes at the door?

    Word by Word: Of whom are those shoes at the door?

    The verb 'são' is plural because it agrees with 'sapatos' (shoes).

  3. De quem é esta casa?

    Whose house is this?

    Word by Word: Of whom is this house?

    The verb 'é' agrees with the singular object 'casa' (house).

  4. De quem são os livros?

    Whose are the books?

    Word by Word: Of whom are the books?

    In Portuguese, the verb usually comes immediately after 'de quem'.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the noun directly after 'de quem' like in English.

    De quem livro é este?
    De quem é este livro?

    In Portuguese questions, the verb 'ser' usually separates 'de quem' from the noun.

  • Using 'de quem' for inanimate objects.

    A casa de quem o telhado é vermelho.
    A casa cujo telhado é vermelho.

    'Quem' refers only to people. For objects, use 'cujo' or 'da qual'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

de quemLevel 1Whose (De Quem)

Learn This First

To understand 'de quem', you first need to know the basic question word for people ('quem') and how the preposition 'de' functions to show possession in Portuguese, as the language lacks a single word equivalent to the English 'whose'.

Words in This Pattern

quem