Another relative pronoun example

Question

Hay problemas para los que no estamos preparados.

Why does it say "los que" rather than "las que"?

I know they use both masc and fem so is this a mistake or do you only use masculine when it becomes plural?

Answer 1

Because problema is masculine. El problema. Los problemas.

Answer 2

Many nouns ending in "ma", "pa", and "ta" have their origins in classical Greek where they were of neuter gender, When they were adopted by the Spanish language, they acquired a masculine gender. Hence, for example, "tema", "mapa" and "planeta"

Answer 3

Yes, many nouns that end in "ma" are masculine -

el clima, el poema, el problema, el programa, el telegrama, el tema

but not all -

la cama, la pluma.

Thanks Kirk. I can NEvER remember those exceptions. Cama y pluma, cama y pluma. - rogspax, Jan 14, 2013