When do I use Cual vs Que?

Question

I am working on some homework, is this correct? Thanks!

¿Qué quieres tomar? ¿Qué día es tu cumpleaños? ¿ Cuál es tu color favorito? ¿Qué postre prefieres? ¿ Cuál es tu opinión? ¿ Cuál de los dos libros te gusta más? ¿Cuál es la clase más divertida este semestre? ¿ Qué música te gusta? ¿ Qué pastel te gusta? ¿ Cuál de los pantalones prefieres, ¿el azul o el amarillo?

What would you use in English - what or which? - ian-hill, Mar 21, 2015

or Which of the following would you use "which" or "what? - ian-hill, Mar 21, 2015

So i think i followed English correctly here? Exept i use Que instead of Cual before a noun? - MelinaM, Mar 21, 2015

Answer 1

Here is a tip that will help you choose the correct one most of the time.

Normally, you will use "qué" in a question before a noun, and you will use "cuál" or "cuáles" before a verb.

¿Qué color te gusta más?

¿Qué hora es?

¿Cuál es tu color favorito?

¿Cuáles son tus colores favoritos?

One thing that does go against this, as pointed out by Daniela in her reply, is that you use "qué" when asking for a definition:

¿Qué es un murciélago?

:) - ian-hill, Mar 21, 2015

Tosh, I can't remeber ever having used cual in a conversation, yet, que is always unndersood. Not that this is a good excuse. I must set out to meet somebodyy and say cual! - annierats, Mar 22, 2015

Answer 2

What has been said here is correct. By the way all your answers are correct. And you stated correctly what some of the others missed. You said, ¿Qué quieres tomar? which illustrates that you do use "Qué" before certain verbs as you did.

With the verb "ser" If you want to know a "definition" , use "qué" as in "Qué es un estetescópio" What is a stethescope?

Use "qué" also to say things like" What is this" What is that? ¿Qué es esto/eso?

Used "cuál" and "cuáles" to get information such as:

¿Cuál es su nombre? What is your name?

¿Cuál es la dirección de la escuela? What is the school's address.

¿Cuáles son los siete días de la semana? What are the seven days of the week?

That is true... asking for a definition does go against my tip. :) - Tosh, Mar 22, 2015

Answer 3

Que is mainly what and cual is wich one ( you need to chooce between 2 or more)

Answer 4

Accent over the "a": cuál