Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
Clues about connections in Spanish
Learn how to describe people and objects by connecting them to specific actions using prepositions. In Spanish, we link ideas using a preposition (like 'with', 'for', or 'in') followed by 'el que', 'la que', 'los que', or 'las que'. Unlike English, we never end a sentence with a preposition.
What you'll learn
- Identify how to use prepositions before relative pronouns.
- Match the gender and number of the pronoun to the noun it describes.
- Practice natural sentence structures for identifying things through their relationships.
Spanish phrases for clues about connections
Ese es el amigo con el que comparto pupitre.
That is the friend with whom I share a desk.
'Con el que' matches the masculine singular 'amigo'.
Aquí está la canción de la que hablábamos.
Here is the song we were talking about.
In Spanish, the preposition 'de' (about) must come before 'la que'.
¿Ese es el niño para el que hiciste la chapa?
Is that the child you made the badge for?
The preposition 'para' (for) starts the connection.
Esta es la lupa con la que miro insectos.
This is the magnifying glass I look at insects with.
We use 'la que' because 'lupa' is feminine.
¿Dónde está la libreta en la que escribes tus ideas?
Where is the notebook you write your ideas in?
Note that 'en la que' translates to 'in which' or 'that... in'.
Ese es el vecino con el que camino al colegio.
That is the neighbour I walk to school with.
The preposition 'con' (with) links the person to the action.
Estos son los cojines sobre los que estábamos sentados.
These are the cushions we were sitting on.
'Sobre los que' uses the plural masculine form to match 'cojines'.
Aquí está el puente por el que pasó nuestro tren.
Here is the bridge our train went over.
'Por' is used here to indicate movement across or through the bridge.
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
pupitre
school desk
Specifically used for the small desks found in classrooms.
chapa
badge / pin
A common word for the small decorative pins kids wear.
lupa
magnifying glass
A feminine noun: 'la lupa'.
vecino
neighbour
Refers to someone who lives nearby.
Relative Clauses with Prepositions
To connect a noun to a detail using a preposition, use the formula: [Preposition] + [el/la/los/las] + [que]. The article must match the noun in gender and number.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | con el que | El juguete con el que juego. |
| Feminine Singular | de la que | La niña de la que te hablé. |
| Masculine Plural | en los que | Los parques en los que corremos. |
| Feminine Plural | para las que | Las cajas para las que busco tapa. |
More examples
Esa es la caja en la que guardo mis juguetes.
That is the box I keep my toys in.
Shows 'en la que' correctly placed before the verb.
Estos son los lápices con los que dibujo.
These are the pencils I draw with.
Uses masculine plural to match 'lápices'.
Busco al profesor del que te conté.
I'm looking for the teacher I told you about.
'Del' is a contraction of 'de + el'.