Understanding el que, lo que, la que, etc.

Question

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good resource that discusses when to use the phrases el que, los que, la que, las que, and lo que, specifically with regards to when to use these phrases rather than just "que"? I pretty much understand why these phrases are used, but when I read and speak to people it seems like sometimes "el que (etc...)" is used and sometimes just "que" is used, and I have never seen it explained why. Here's one small example from a letter I'm writing to a friend: "Ayer fui a un pueblo que se llama Puyo, que está cerca de la selva". So I'm not sure whether this is correct (I think it is) or whether I should say "que se llama Puyo, el que está cerca de la selva." But this is just one example; I find myself asking this question all the time.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Luke 77

To find resources on this subject it might help to know the proper terminology. The grammatical category that you are referring to is properly called relative pronouns.

If you do a quick internet search using this term along with the tag word "Spanish," you should be able to find plenty of information on the subject.

When I first began studying this topic, I found the following site fairly helpful

Relative Pronouns

I also found the book Mastering Spanish Grammar by Pilar Muñoz to have a very simple and concise handling of this subject. You might check your local library to see if they have a copy.

In addition, here are a couple of other resources that I am familiar with which you might find useful:

Relative Clauses: an introduction

Relative Pronoun Quiz

Spanish Language Drill: Relative Pronouns

Thanks! - luke77, Aug 20, 2010

Answer 2

Hey, well it is a good question. Actually I can tell you some situations in which la que , el que , los que , las que are used.

1) Relative Clauses

It's a restaurant in which you can find those roasted patatoes that you are lookin for.

Es un restaurante en el que puedes encontrar esas patatas asadas que buscas.

This is a good example. Over there I used el que because it is el restaurante and in the second part I only used que because over there , there is no preposition.

another example;

This is the school which I want to go. = Esta es la escuela a la que quiero ir.

And here it is a la que because you go to somewhere.

2) In a conversation , if they don't understand the thing you say...

For example you are saying Can you tell me what is exactly a snail soup? = ¿Me puedes decir qué es exactamente la sopa de caracol? and the person you are talking to didn't understand what you said and he says ¿El qué? to make you repeat your sentence in order to be able to answer your question...

Well , actually these are the examples which I've seen so far. There maybe others but I hope this helps you..