Quien or que when following antecedent

Question

In the grammar section, there is this statement: Quien is not used when the relative pronoun immediate follows the antecedent, even if it refers to a person. Que is used instead. Can someone give an example of what is meant? It seems that quien is often used when following the antecedent, as in Mi tía, quien es doctora...

Great! I love grammar rules. Actually this is more syntax but very helpful. - Jubilado, May 17, 2013

Answer 1

Mis amigos, que trabajan en Bank of America, son excelentes personas. That is a relative pronoun que. I would never use "quien" like we use in English. The relative pronoun que can be used for both people, animals or objects.

I hope this helps!

It does and thank you francobollo. - 0095ca4c, May 17, 2013

Thanks--this is helpful. I will be using que more often now. - RolloMartins, May 19, 2013

Answer 2

There seem to be differences between formal rules and what some speakers do in the real world.

In this case, iirc our rules from class, quien is used after the comma, but que would be OK without the comma.

Mi tía, quien es doctora...

Mi tía que es doctora...

The distinction is largely lost on my and I´m a long ways from a native speaker, but that´s how it was taught to us.

Good answer, but clarify "iirc" and "lost on my and I'm..." Thanks, I like such specific grammar references. - Jubilado, May 17, 2013