How to properly use qué and cuál.

Question

Questions with “qué” and “cuál.”

Qué and cuál with the verb “ser”

Use “qué” if you want a definition or to know what something is.

¿Qué es eso/esto?” What is this/that. (Asking what something is.)

¿Qué es “paralipómenos?” What is “paralipómenos?” (Asking for a definition)

¿Qué es un carburador? What is a carburetor? (Asking for a definition)

Use “cuál” when you want information.

¿Cuál es su apellido? What is your family name?

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

¿Cuál es el nombre de su profesor de algebra? What is your Algebra teacher’s name?

---

Qué and Cuál with other verbs.

Always use “qué” when the next word is a noun, either singular or plural. Sometimes it is translated “which” in English, sometimes as “what.”

¿Qué día va a regresar Pedro?” What day is Pedro going to return?

¿Qué cosas me traes?” What things are you bringing me?

¿Qué muchacho rompió la ventana? Which boy broke the window ( Note:It's “which” in English here”)

¿Qué chicas van a participar en el concurso de belleza? Which girls are going to participate in the beauty contest. (Again “which” in English)

---

“Qué” when the next word is a verb. (Except for "ser" which was discussed above.)

¿Qué vamos a hacer ahora? What are we going to do now?

¿Qué dijo Alfonso cuando fue arrestado por la policía? What did Alfonso say when he was arrested by the police.?

---

“Cuál/Cuáles” with “de” plus a noun.

¿Cuáles de los chicos fueron escogidos para particpar en el torneo de fúbol”

Which (ones) of the boys were chosen to participate in the Soccer tournament?

¿Cuál de las hermanas toca la guitarra? Which (one) of the sisters plays the guitar?

---

I hope that this little article has cleared up some problems regarding “qué” and “cuál.”

See , see ! My obvious mistake has drawn you into my web. In oz we would now shout out . "Come in Spinner" . - ray76, Oct 23, 2016

Thank you so much F Y S, you are indeed a "Leyenda" whhhhich is a high accolade in OZ.. - ray76, Oct 23, 2016

I think I may have done this before maybe a year ago. - Daniela2041, Oct 23, 2016

Yup! I did, on January 4, Here's the link, http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/279614/qu-o-cul-uf-qu-dolor-de-cabeza - Daniela2041, Oct 23, 2016

"play the guitar" - ray76, Oct 23, 2016

The phrase "come in, spinner!" meaning "Ha! tricked you!"It seems this usage of the phrase is yet to be covered by any of the Australian dictionaries, even though it's quite widely used.The same phrase is used in the gambling game two-up, played with coi - ray76, Oct 23, 2016

coins where it means that all the bets have been placed and the coins can be tossed. - ray76, Oct 23, 2016

I guessed the meaning. I'm getting the hang of some of this Aussie lingo. - Daniela2041, Oct 23, 2016

:) - ian-hill, Oct 25, 2016

;) - jrschenk, Oct 26, 2016

Answer 1

This is a wonderful thread members could moke up sentences using these

Que and Cual with "SER" .Writing them out is a great way to remeber them.