Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
An extra clue in one sentence in Spanish
In this guide, we'll learn how to add extra information to a sentence using relative clauses. This helps you identify exactly which person or thing you are talking about by describing what they do or what happens to them.
What you'll learn
- Understand how to use 'que' as a relative pronoun for both people and things.
- Learn to identify specific subjects by adding descriptive actions.
- Recognize the word order in Spanish identifying clauses.
Spanish phrases for an extra clue in one sentence
Ese es el conserje que abre las puertas del colegio.
That is the caretaker who opens the school gates.
'Que' acts as 'who' here to describe the caretaker.
Conozco a una niña que habla tres idiomas.
I know a girl who speaks three languages.
Notice 'que' connects the girl to her ability to speak three languages.
Necesitamos un juego que quepa en esta bolsa.
We need a game that fits in this bag.
'Que quepa' is used here; 'quepa' is a form of 'caber' (to fit).
Esos son los niños que cantan en el coro.
Those are the children who sing in the choir.
'Que' stays the same whether the subject is singular or plural.
¿Dónde está el bolígrafo que escribe en morado?
Where is the pen that writes in purple?
'Que' identifies a specific object by its function.
Aquí está la llave que abre el cobertizo.
Here is the key that opens the shed.
Use 'que' to link the object to the action it performs.
¿Es ese el autobús que para cerca del colegio?
Is that the bus that stops near our school?
'Que para' tells us exactly which bus route we mean.
Me gustan los rompecabezas que tardan un poco más.
I like puzzles that take a little longer.
'Que tardan' identifies the specific type of puzzles liked.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
conserje
caretaker / janitor
A common term for school or building maintenance staff.
cobertizo
shed
A small building used for storage.
rompecabezas
puzzle
Literally means 'head-breaker'.
idiomas
languages
Used for speaking different tongues (e.g., Spanish, English).
Relative Clauses with 'Que'
In Spanish, 'que' is the universal relative pronoun. While English uses 'who', 'which', or 'that', Spanish typically uses 'que' for all of these when identifying a subject. The structure is simple: [Noun] + [que] + [verb].
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| People (Singular) | El niño que... | El niño que corre. |
| People (Plural) | Los niños que... | Los niños que corren. |
| Objects (Singular) | El libro que... | El libro que está ahí. |
| Objects (Plural) | Los libros que... | Los libros que son verdes. |
More examples
La gata que duerme en el sofá es mía.
The cat that sleeps on the sofa is mine.
Identifying a specific pet.
¿Buscas al profesor que enseña música?
Are you looking for the teacher who teaches music?
Identifying a specific person by their job.
Tengo un coche que no funciona.
I have a car that doesn't work.
Describing the state of an object.