Spanish grammar: oraciones subordinadas adjetivas

What this grammar point covers

In Spanish, 'oraciones subordinadas adjetivas' are relative clauses. They are sentences that describe or give more information about a noun, just like adjectives.

When to use it

Use these clauses in Spanish when you want to add information about a person, thing, or place mentioned in the main sentence. They help specify or identify which person or thing you are talking about.

Key forms

• que + verbo (La casa que veo...)
• quien/quienes + verbo (La persona quien habla...)
• cuyo/a/os/as + nombre (El libro cuyo autor...)

Examples

Tips

• In Spanish, the relative pronoun 'que' is the most common. It can refer to people or things.
• Remember that the verb in the relative clause must agree with the noun it describes.
• Don't forget to use 'a' before 'quien' or 'que' when referring to a person who is the object of the verb (e.g., La persona a quien llamo).

Exceptions and edge cases

• Sometimes 'el que', 'la que', 'los que', or 'las que' can be used instead of 'que' to be more specific or after a preposition.